IRAQ HALTS WAR OF THE CITIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 01369 E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR TAGS: PREL MOPS IZ IR SUBJECT: IRAQ HALTS WAR OF THE CITIES ¶1. (CONFIDENTIAL-ENTIRE TEXT) ¶2. MFA SENIOR UNDERSECRETARY ZIHAWI CALLED IN AMBASSADORS OF FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS AT 1330 MARCH 10 TO ANNOUNCE IRAQ LEADERSHIP'S DECISION TO HALT ATTACKS ON IRANIAN CITIES. A PUBLIC ANNOUNCE- MENT IS TO BE MADE SHORTLY, PROBABLY ON THE 1430 LOCAL NEWS. ZIHAWI CONCEDED THAT IF IRAN DID NOT STOP, IRAQ WOULD BE FORCED TO RESUME. ¶3. ZIHAWI SAID THAT THE DECISION WAS MADE SOME TIME AGO (NOTE: PRESUMABLY A REFERENCE TO TOP LEVEL RE- VIEW UNDERSECRETARY HAMDOON SAID WAS BEING CONDUCTED SEVERAL DAYS AGO). IT WAS NOT, ZIHAWI UNDERLINED, IN RESPONSE TO THE INITIATIVE OF ANY OUTSIDE PARTY. ¶4. ZIHAWI CONCLUDED BY EMPHASIZING RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FIVE TO PROCEED IMMEDIATELY BY PASSING AN ARMS ENFORCEMENT AGAINST IRAN IN THE FORM OF AN ARMS EMBARGO. ¶5. ON THE WAY OUT THE SOVIET AMBASSADOR ASKED THE AMBASSADOR WHY IRAQ WAS STOPPED. THE AMBASSADOR RESPONDED THAT PERHAPS THE SOVIET UNCON SHOULD GET SOME CREDIT SINCE IT HAS PROPOSED SUCH AN UNWELCOME RESOLUTION IN NEW YORK. ¶6. COMMENT: IRAQ IS ENDING WITH A FLOURISH SINCE IT CLAIMS TO HAVE FIRED FOUR MISSILES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS (1800, 2250, 0534, AND 1230). THE LAST IRANIAN MISSILE WAS 0941 MARCH 9. NEWTON