Pres. Bush says direct talks between U.S. and Iraq are "on hold" until Baghdad agrees to receive Sec. Baker no later than 1/3; Iraq echoes Bush statement saying talks have been postponed indefinitely, and wants Baker-Saddam meeting on 1/12 [NYT, LAT, WP 12/15].
Sec.-Gen. of GCC, Abdallah Beshara, a Kuwaiti, is quoted as saying Gulf crisis has underlined need for 6-member GCC to set up joint army and move towards "total unity" [MEM 12/14].
Algerian Pres. Chedli Benjedid flies to Muscat for meetings with Omani leaders about Gulf crisis [MEM 12/14].
Three Israelis are stabbed to death in an aluminum factory in Jaffa; widespread anti- Arab rioting follows while police search for 2 Palestinian suspects (cf. 12/15) LIDS 12/14 in FBIS 12/14, FBIS 12/17; MEM 12/14; NYT, LAT, WP 12/15; JPI 12/22; MET 12/25]