Iraqi National Congress

LONDON -- Veterans of the Iraqi opposition bidding to oust Saddam Hussein are beginning to condemn the U.S.-led bombing of Baghdad.Many say the aerial campaign is doomed to fail because it won't trigger Hussein's downfall. Moreover, they fear for the safety of Iraqi citizens who are living under the attacks that went into a third day early this morning."The bottom line is Saddam is the problem," said Zab Sethna, spokesman for the main exile group, the London-based Iraqi National Congress.

WASHINGTON -- Now that a massive U.S. bombardment of Iraq has been put on hold, the Iraqi opposition in exile and powerful supporters in Washington have another suggestion: an insurrection supplied with U.S. weapons.With an eagerly anticipated $97 million worth of U.S. anti-tank weapons, rifles, artillery and training, the Iraqi opposition aims to insert 5,000 warriors into southern Iraq who would encourage defections from Saddam Hussein's army. With American air cover, the forces would launch insurrections from this "safe haven" aimed at replacing Hussein with a broad-based democratic government.

ANKARA, Turkey -- Hoping to help rebuild an opposition movement in Iraq, the Clinton administration is bringing the leaders of two rival Iraqi Kurdish factions to Washington for face-to-face talks aimed at ending their military conflict.A meeting between Massoud Barzani of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Jalal Talabani of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is expected to take place within the next two weeks. The U.S. effort comes amid concern that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein may be ready to use force to reassert his rule over Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON -- Against the background of a thwarted Iraqi assassination attempt against former President George Bush, the Clinton administration is preparing a new political and diplomatic offensive to support a broad-based Iraqi opposition group in its efforts to overthrow Saddam Hussein.President Clinton pledged U.S. support for the Iraqi National Congress this week, officially giving up on Mr. Bush's hope that leaders of the Iraqi army and the Baath Party would topple Mr. Hussein to end Western economic sanctions.