Saturday, August 31, 1996

PA, Israeli officials meet to try to schedule resumption of negotiations; mtg. btwn. Arafat, Netanyahu. (IDF Radio, ITV 9/1 in WNC 9/4; NYT, WP, WT 9/2; JP 9/7)

30,000-40,000 Iraqi troops seize Irbil, the largest town in the Kurdish zone. Heavy fighting is reported. PM Tariq Aziz says troops will pullout immediately after securing KDP head Massoud Barzani's control of the city, ousting PUK puts forces in the region on high alert. (NYT, WP, WT 9/1; MM, WP, WT 9/2; MEI 9/6) (see 8/30)