EC foreign ministers call off scheduled meeting with Iraqi F.M. Aziz, deciding not to negotiate with Iraq until Washington and Baghdad talk first [LAT, WT 12/19; CSM 12/20]; EC ministers decide to extend grants and loans to number of Mediterranean countries, including Syria [DDS 12/19 in FBIS 12/20].
Sec. Baker indicates that even if Iraq pulls out of part of Kuwait before 1/15, the U.S. would not shrink from military measures to push Iraqis all the way out [NYT 12/19].
Amnesty International issues report asserting Iraqi occupation forces in Kuwait have tortured and killed hundreds of people, including 300 premature babies who died because incubators were stolen [WP, MEM 12/19; NYT 12/20].
'Al Hamishmar reports Israel is concerned by U.S. readiness to consider increasing number of UNRWA workers in o.t. so that they can serve as observers and report findings to UN Sec.-Gen. [HAM 12/19 in FBIS 12/20].
Israeli soldiers shoot and wound 18 Palestinians in o.t. during strike to protest Israeli plans to deport 4 Palestinian leaders [JPD 12/19 in FBIS 12/20; MEM 12/18; NYT 12/19; FJ 12/24; MET 1/1].
Israeli Maj.-Gen. Yitzhak Mordechai is named to succeed retiring Maj.-Gen. Yossi Peled as OC Northern Command [MEM 12/19].