File: 082696_d50028_121.txt
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than days or weeks. (New York Times, January 25, p. Al.)

)J~~~~~y 25
-- Friday--- The United States accuses Iraq of releasing millions of gallons of Kuwaiti crude oil into
the Persian Gulf. Said to have no military significance, it nonetheless threatens to create a huge
ecological disaster. The oil slick is nine miles long, and is flowing from tankers anchored at the port
of Nina M Ahmadi, and from the Sea Island Terminal 10 miles off the Kuwaiti coast. Iraq complains
to the U.N. that the U.S. caused the slick by bombing two tankers in the Gulf. (New York Times,
January 26, p. 1.)

President Bush calls the spilling of crude oil a "sick" act of desperation by Iraq and orders the
Pentagon to move to stop the spill. Pentagon spokesmen call the spill an act of "environmental
terrorism." (New York Times, January 26, p. 5.)

Iraq, in its fifth missile attack on Israel in seven days, fires seven Scuds at Tel Aviv and Haifa, but
all are intercepted by Patriot missiles. At least one person is killed and 42~ wounded by falling shrapnel
from the mid-air explosion. Two Scuds are fired at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and one penetrates defenses
and lands in the center of Riyadh; At least one killed, six wounded. (New York Times, January 26, p.
6.)

-- The independent Soviet news agency Interfax quotes unidentified Soviet Defense Ministry officials
as saying President Saddam Hussein had his top air force and air defense commanders shot after heavy
losses in the Persian Gulf war. The Iraqi Embassy in Moscow denies the report. (New York Times,
January 26, p. 7.)

The Pentagon authorizes the use, under specified circumstances, of non-lethal riot gases against Iraqi
ground forces and prisoners of war. The decision, which was meant to hold down American casualties,
prompts intense debate on whether Iraq might seize on the decision to justify the use of chemical
weapons. (New York Times, January 26, p. 7.)

Senior British officials say the allied air campaign against Iraq will continue for two to three more
weeks before ground forces go into action. Britain has sent 35,000 soldiers, sailors, pilots and aircrews
to the Gulf. Five Tornados have been lost to Iraq anti-aircraft fire, one to an accident. (New York
Times, January 26, p. 7.)

The government of Helmut Kohl is being besieged by criticism for its response to the Persian Gulf
war. Commentators say Germany "sits aloof on the sidelines". Germany has contributed $3 billion to
the allied effort, but critics complain that, because of its wealth, it should be giving more. (New York
Times, January 26, p. 8.)

Iran restates its neutrality, but urges that negotiations between the warring parties be encouraged
immediately. (New York Times, January 26, p. 8.)

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