KUWAIT: United Nations military observers on the Iraq-Kuwait border yesterday began evacuating personnel after being told by US officials in Kuwait that their safety could no longer be guaranteed, writes Jack Fairweather in Kuwait City.
With an increasing number of US incursions into the 240km-long demilitarised border zone as British and American forces prepare for war, UN air and maritime patrols have also been stopped as a "precautionary measure." A spokesman for the UN Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission said: "In light of the current situation in the border region, we have decided to withdraw 300 staff, and reduce patrolling to what is absolutely necessary." The evacuated staff includes 155 civilian workers, 155 non-essential military staff and eight observers, part of a 1500 strong mission whose role it has been since the First Gulf War to report on violations of the demilitarised zone which separates Iraq and Kuwait.
UNIKOM's remaining 187 observers - including 11 British - and a 775-strong Bangladeshi military support unit will continue land patrols although preparations are being made to evacuate them several days ahead of a US-led invasion of Iraq.
Concerns over the safety of UNIKOM observers were raised following "dozens" of violations of the border region by armed forces that identified themselves as US marines.
Although the movement of troops in the border zone has not been authorised by the UN, Washington has so far claimed it is only working "in support" of earlier UN resolutions establishing the demilitarised zone.
Last week seven holes with gates wide enough to let a tank pass through were created in the electrified border fence and a series of earthen ramparts and anti-tanks ditches in the demilitarised zone breached.
Michael Jansen adds: The Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, declared that his country would not give Saddam Hussein, refuge if he goes into exile.
He also dismissed reports that Saudi Arabia had closed Arar airport, 15 kilometres from the Iraqi border, because US troops were landing there to take part in an expected US-prosecuted war. Prince Saud said, "The kingdom has said and said again it does not agree with the use of its territory for any aggression against Iraq or any other Arab country." His denial followed reports by exiled Saudi dissident and published in the Washington Post that the US and Saudi Arabia had reached an agreement permitting the US to carry out aerial bombing raids from the kingdom's territory.