TFIZ01 SITUATION REPORT NO. 005 AS OF 1530 EST

S E C R E T STATE 073981 INFORM CONSULS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2013 TAGS: PREL PINS AEMR MARR CASC IZ SUBJECT: TFIZ01 SITUATION REPORT NO. 005 AS OF 1530 EST THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2003 CLASSIFIED BY W STANTON, COORDINATOR. REASONS 1.5 B AND D. AIT UPDATE ¶1. (S) A TOTAL OF FOUR IRAQI MISSILES HAVE HIT KUWAIT SINCE THE START OF MILITARY ACTION. THERE WAS ALSO AN UNIDENTIFIED EXPLOSION NEAR CAMP COMMANDO. NO CASUALTIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THESE INCIDENTS, AND THERE HAS BEEN NO EVIDENCE THUS FAR OF CBW. (IRAQ TF-EMBASSY KUWAIT E- MAILS AND TELCON) ANTI U.S. DEMONSTRATIONS, U.S. EMBASSY CLOSURES ¶2. (C) DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATIONS TOOK PLACE AT 55 POSTS. FORTY-FOUR POSTS ARE CLOSED OR HAVE REDUCED OPERATIONS. (IRAQ TF-DS EMERGENCY RESPONSE COMMAND CENTER TELCONS AND E-MAILS) GOT SAYS TURKS WILL BE IN NORTHERN IRAQ ¶3. (S) TURKISH MFA U/S ZIYAL TOLD AMBASSADOR PEARSON THAT TURKEY DOES NOT ACCEPT THE USG POSITION ON A TURKISH PRESENCE IN IRAQ. ACCORDING TO ZIYAL, THE U.S. NEEDS TO ACCEPT THAT TURKEY WILL HAVE A PRESENCE IN NORTHERN IRAQ AND THE LENGTH OF TIME IT WILL REMAIN THERE "IS A QUESTION FOR THE TURKISH MILITARY." ZIYAL AGREED ON THE NEED TO DISCUSS WITH US THE NATURE OF THE PRESENCE. MEANWHILE, THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT HAS VOTED TO ALLOW COALITION USE OF TURKISH AIRSPACE. (ANKARA 1794, CNN) OIL WELLS ON FIRE; MARKETS UNFAZED ¶4. (S) IMAGERY CONFIRMS THAT IRAQ HAS BLOWN NINE OIL WELL HEADS SOUTH OF BASRA; AT LEAST THREE ARE ON FIRE. REPORTS OF THE WELLS BURNING SOUTH OF BASRA DID NOT FAZE OIL MARKETS, WHERE CRUDE PRICES HAD FALLEN TO USD 28.15 AT 1400 EST. KUWAITI REFINERIES REMAIN OPERATIONAL, PROTECTED FROM IRAQI MISSILES BY PATRIOT BATTERIES, ACCORDING TO EMBASSY KUWAIT. TO REASSURE MARKETS, OPEC LEADERS STATE SUPPLIES ARE MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO MEET NEEDS. MEANWHILE, THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION ACTIVATED CONTINGENCY PLANS TO REROUTE CIVILIAN AIR TRAFFIC IN THE REGION. (IRAQ TF-EB TELCON, IRAQ TF-EMBASSY KUWAIT TELCON, FOX NEWS, NIMA) ¶5. (U) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED DUSHANBE, KHARTOUM, KABUL. POWELL