http://www.boston.com/dailynews/162/world/Saudi_Arabia_seizes_ownership_:.shtml

Saudi Arabia seizes ownership of Iraqi pipeline

By Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press, 6/11/2001 22:53

UNITED NATIONS (AP) Saudi Arabia has taken over a disused pipeline which it allowed Iraq to build on its territory, accusing Baghdad of threatening its neighbors.

In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan released Monday, Saudi Arabia's U.N. Ambassador Fawzi Shobokshi said his government decided to confiscate the pipeline because Iraq's allegedly continued aggressive behavior had ''destroyed any rationale for maintaining the facilities.''

Last week, Saudi Arabia accused Iraq of launching a series of cross-border raids that it said injured Saudi soldiers and jeopardized security and peace in the region. It warned of ''grave consequences'' if the attacks don't stop.

Kuwait, to the south of Iraq, continues to protest against Iraqi threats to its sovereignty.

The pipeline has not been in operation since Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, when the Saudis disconnected and blocked both ends. Until then, it carried 879 million barrels of Iraqi oil at a time to the Saudi port of Mu'jiz.

Saudi Arabia took over the pipeline and its adjacent facilities, including pumping stations and storage tanks, on June 4, said Shobokshi.

Iraq's U.N. envoy, Mohammed Al-Douri, called the Saudi pipeline seizure a ''violation'' of a Saudi-Iraqi agreement and said Iraq was considering seeking compensation.

Shobokshi said Saudi Arabia had allowed Iraq to build the pipeline in hopes that the project would provide a model of ''cooperation, integration and solidarity among the Arab countries.''

''Most regrettably, however, the Iraqi government did not keep its pledge, did not maintain neighborly relations and did not respect fraternal ties,'' he said. ''Indeed it continued to make threats and proceeded to commit aggression, thereby causing serious damage to the Saudi people, in terms of lives and property, as well as to natural resources and the environment.''

Saudi Arabia broke diplomatic relations with Baghdad after Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The Saudi government feared that Saddam Hussein might continue across the Kuwaiti border into Saudi Arabia and a U.S.-led coalition force deployed to the oil-rich kingdom. It liberated Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War.

Iraq has repeatedly criticized Saudi Arabia for allowing U.S. and British aircraft to use its bases to enforce a no-fly zone over southern Iraq. The zones are meant to prevent Iraqi forces from attacking Kurds in the north and Shiites in the south.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Answers

Last week, Saudi Arabia accused Iraq of launching a series of cross-border raids that it said injured Saudi soldiers and jeopardized security and peace in the region. It warned of ''grave consequences'' if the attacks don't stop.

I had no idea Iraq was being so silly. I mean, Saudi is a bit bigger than Kuwait and much better equipped to fight back.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Meanwhile, over on Downstreamer's forum, someone is trying to make the case that the Saudis don't need us anymore, that they're getting along just fine with their neighbors.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001