JULY 25 DISTURBANCE ON IRAQ/KUWAIT BORDER

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003287 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PBTS ASEC PREL IZ KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS SUBJECT: JULY 25 DISTURBANCE ON IRAQ/KUWAIT BORDER ¶1. (SBU) An estimated 800-1000 Iraqi civilians converged on the closed border crossing point at Umm Qasr the morning of July 25 protesting lack of compensation for farm land lost due to the UN border demarcation. Kuwaiti contractors working on emplacing a pipeline barrier along the border were threatened by stonethrowers and withdrew under the protection of Kuwaiti border police. Senior MFA and MOD officials separately contacted the Embassy to apprise of the situation, but made no specific request for assistance. Eventually, British MND-SE forces assisted in generating an Iraqi police response and the protestors moved to a district governorate office in Umm Qasr to register their demands for compensation. ¶2. (SBU) Upon receipt of the information we coordinated with U.S. and British military to facilitate an appropriate response and to diffuse the situation. Reportedly there was some minor physical damage at the border post but no injuries. This episode involved larger numbers of Iraqis than previous clashes at spots along the sensitive border, highlighting the ongoing need for regular coordination between Iraqi and Kuwaiti border police to prevent more serious incidents. TUELLER