Posted on 03/11/2003 10:37:57 AM PST by kattracks
Mar 11, 2003 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq said an aerial confrontation between U.S. surveillance planes and Iraqi fighter jets was a "technical mistake" resulting from a mistake on the part of U.N. weapons inspectors, who have apologized to Iraq.
U.S. officials said Iraqi fighter jets threatened two American U-2 surveillance planes, forcing them to abort their mission and return to base. A Pentagon official said the decision to end the mission was made "in the interest of safety."
In Baghdad, Maj. Gen. Hossam Mohammed Amin, the chief Iraqi liaison with U.N. weapons inspectors, told reporters that the second flight by the American U-2 had not been scheduled Tuesday.
Both flights took place Tuesday morning and it was the U.N. inspectors that ordered the two planes to leave Iraqi airspace, he said.
Amin said the second plane's entry point was over the Iraqi-Saudi border and not from Kuwait as it has been the custom since the flights began last month.
He said he contacted the senior U.N. inspector in Baghdad, who told him that a technical error was made. "He promised that the mistake would never be repeated and offered his sincere apology," Amin said.
"They (the inspectors) asked the two planes to leave," Amin said in a hurriedly convened news conference at the Information Ministry.
Amin poured scorn on the American version of events, saying it reflected "the frustration and the failure of American policies in finding excuses for aggression against Iraq."
The U-2 planes were flying missions at 2 a.m. Iraqi time for the U.N. weapons inspectors when Iraq launched fighter jets. According to two of the officials, the threat was directed against one of the two planes, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Multiple flights are permitted under a U.N. Security Council resolution approved last November, and the Bush administration sought clarification from U.N. inspectors after the U-2 flights were suspended.
A spokesman for the inspection agency said in New York that Iraqi authorities "expressed surprise" when notified of the flights and the agency requested the planes turn back. Further U-2 and Mirage reconnaissance fights are planned, the spokesman, Ewen Buchanan, said.
"I can confirm that two U-2 reconnaissance aircraft operating on behalf of UNMOVIC operated in Iraqi airspace this morning. Although Iraq had been notified of a flight time window, they expressed surprise and concern that two flights were operating simultaneously. In the interest of safety UNMOVIC requested the aircraft to withdraw. Further U-2 and Mirage reconnaissance flights are still planned."
The statement made no reference to Iraq launching fighter jets, nor was it critical of Baghdad in any way.
The surveillance operations are considered a major tool in checking on Iraq's weaponry, but there are other means, as well.
The U.N. inspection agency, known, as UNMOVIC, had given advance notice to Iraq of the flights, said the U.S. official.
An endless amount, apparently.
They may even be brand new French fighters (yes, the froggies have been selling planes to Saddam up to a few days ago).
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