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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 19, 1991)
I Associated Press Nebraskan £ ■*■ ^ * w L-* Edited by Jennifer O'Cilka Tuesday, March 19,1991 _ ___—- --r=r. TV iiiMMinTTHa —■jnjjjjiiiiiMS^i Dueling Soviet leaders both emerge victorious MOSCOW - Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev arid his maverick rival Boris Yeltsin on Monday both emerged from the first referendum in Soviet history able to claim victory. In the nonbinding election held Sunday in 11 time zones across the Soviet Union, Gorbachev won over whelming support for preserving a renewed federation with the majority of the population. But partial returns showed Ycltsin winning on a question that has been opposed by Gorbachev: Creating a strong presidency for the Russian fed eration, and filling it by direct elec tion. Yeltsin was elected chairman by Russia’s legislature in May. Known as the Russian president, he is in danger of losing that job. The hard line members of Russia’s Congress arc planning a no-confidence vote on March 28. Even if Yeltsin lost that vote, he would be strongly favored in a popular election. Gorbachev’s referendum won by margins of 70 percent to 95 percent in seven of the 15 republics: the Ukraine, Byelorussia, and in the five republics of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Uzbeki stan, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenia and Kirgizia. There were no final totals for Russia and Azerbaijan on Monday. Local counts were running strongly in favor of the union in the Russian country side and many cities, but weak in Yeltsin’s strongholds, Moscow and Sverdlovsk. Six indcpcndencc-mindcd repub lics refused to hold the referendum and the majority of their voters ap peared to slay away from polls held in Communist Party and military bases. Less than a 50 percent turnout renders an election invalid under Soviet law. But officials claimed 500,(XX) voted in Latvia and 652,000 in Lithuania, with a 97 percent ‘yes’ vote in Lithu ania. The turnouts were less than the required 50 percent, but still higher than expected because both republics voted strongly for independence sev eral weeks ago. In Lithuania, the count could be accurate only if there were at least 200,(XX) ‘no’ votes, said parliamcn tary spokesman Harris Subacius. . Both republics reported widespread ballot-stuffing on Sunday, because voters’ names were not checked against registration rolls. Gorbachev first proposed the ref erendum in December as a means of pressuring leaders of the 15 Soviet republics into signing a new Union Treaty to preserve central control over politics and the economy. AP The main referendum question did not mention the Union Treaty and was so vague that even Gorbachev’s allies were not sure how to translate an electoral victory into policy. Bush demands payment for Iraqi war damage WASHINGTON - President Bush Monday demanded that Iraq pay war reparations for its “environmental terrorism” and said he wanted to cut arms sales to the Middle East. The administration also announced new steps to underwrite sales of military goods. Bush, just back from postwar talks with leaders of Britain, France and Canada, compared notes with Secre tary of State James Baker, who re turned Sunday from a trip to the Middle East and Moscow. The president said he wanted to build on a feeling of good will in the aftermath of the war against Iraq to calm the turmoil in Lebanon, recon cile Arab-lsracli differences and find a solution for the Palestinian prob lem. He cautioned, “1 don’t think the American people ought to think that you can wave a wand and solve all three of these very difficult problems at once.” However, he added, “1 think the longer one wails to take any initia tives, the danger is things revert back to a status quo. And I think that will be unacceptable.” The United States and its allies in the Gulf war are holding talks at the United Nations this week on condi tions for a permanent cease-fire. “Broadly speaking, people know what is required," Bush said. “I would like to sec us reduce the How of weapons into the area.... Iraq must pay reparations or pay damages. The more one looks at the environmental terrorism that they embraced ... the more the w orld understands that they have got to do something about that.” He said Iraq is a wealthy nation that spent its money on weapons and aggression. “Now we’ve got to sec that they use their resources for help ing their own people.” The president spoke at a White House ceremony where he received a humanitarian award for his “moral courage and unshakcable resolve.” It was presented by Nobel laureate Elic Wicscl, w ho implored Bush “to listen to Israel’s fears, just as Israel should listen to the president’s hopes.” Separately, the White House said Bush would seek congressional ap proval allowing the Export-Import Bank, a government agency, to under write up to SI billion in foreign mili tary sales by U.S. companies. White House press secretary Mar lin Fit/.water said the program did not conflict w ith Bush’s goal of reducing the spread of arms to the Middle East. “We’re not talking about cutting off all arms sales,’’ he said. “We’re talking about a balance and a stability in the region.. .. Sometimes you’ve got to make reductions, sometimes you have to build up. It goes both ways.” The program, intended to help the domestic arms industry during an era of dwindling defense spending, pro vides government-guaranteed loans to protect against default by purchas ers. Sales would be automatically covered to any NATO countries, as well as Israel, Japan and Australia. Moreover, the financing would be available to any other country, should the president determine it is in the national interest. Kuwaiti recovery Rebuilding of economy begins KUWAIT CITY-Gasoline is free, but it’s tough to find a chocolate bar atany price. Unskilled Filipino labor ers have suddenly become the subject of bidding wars. In one of the world’s richest countries, hardly anyone has money. Kuwait’s once prosperous econ omy is now distinguished by wide spread shortages and quirks that arc bewildering Kuwaitis as they try to recover from the Gulf war. “We don’t know what the govern ment is planning to do. We don’t know how things arc going to work,” said Mohammed al-Yahya, general manager of the Commercial Bank of Kuwait, the emirate’s second-largest bank. Kuwait City’s skyline of sleek glass and-stecl towers now looks like a ghost town that was hit by a tornado. At street level, row after row of shops sit empty after being looted or burned during the seven-month Iraqi occupa tion. Insurance won’t cover war losses. Banks say new loans arc a distant prospect. Most consumer goods, from clothes to electronics to cars, arc not expected to reappear soon. Some merchants have goods, but won’t offer them for sale until the government announces the Kuwaiti dinar-U.S. dollar exchange rate. “1 have S5 million of slock ready to go, but I’m not opening until I know the exchange rate,” said Sam id Samad Rahami, an Iranian who runs Seven Sea Ready-Made Garments. “I have to buy everything in dollars.” The government is importing gaso line from Saudi Arabia and pumping it free at filling stations that often have lines snaking for several blocks. It’s a start, but businesses still lack electricity, telephones, labor and supplies, and only a few have reo pened. Restoring the banking system is essential for Kuwaitis, even wealthy ones, who arc desperate for cash. Most banks have been closed since Decem ber, and Kuwaitis who have currency arc likely to be holding Iraqi dinars they were forced to use during the occupation — money now consid ered largely worthless. For now, U.S. dollars, Iraqi dinars, old Kuwaiti dinars and Saudi Arabian riyals all arc in use. Abdul Rahman al-Awadi, minis ter of state for cabinet affairs, said Sunday that Kuwait would reissue its currency “within a maximum of 10 days.” But the Kuwaiti dinar, worth S3.30 before the occupation, will now be much weaker, al-Yahya predicted. In a country dependent on im ports, that means higher prices. Food staples such as sugar, milk, chicken and sheep meal already cost mud1 more than before — if they arc avail able at all. Kuwait has enough wealth — cvci with most of its oil fields in ruins—1< help moderate the frustrations o ordinary citizens. The govemmen has promised 500 dinars to ever; Kuwaiti, though distribution won’ begin until the banks reopen. Rebels: Opposition resisting Iraqi army’s entire arsenal NICOSIA, Cyprus - Kurdish reb els said Monday the Iraqi army was using virtually every weapon ilhas to try to break the back of the rebellion in northern Iraq. Spokesmen for Shiite Muslims also fighting to topple President Saddam Hussein maintain their fighters arc holding off a three-pronged assault by Iraqi troops on the southern cities of Basra, Karbala and Tannuma. Iraq’s government-controlled newspapers claimed the army crushed the revolt in the south, despite attacks from Shiite rebels that had left cities in ruins. Kuwait’s Crown Prince dis puted that, saying Iraqi resistance was winning in the north as well as in southern Iraq near Iran. Officials of the Shiite and Kurdish rebel groups in Damascus and Lon don charged Iraqi forces were using napalm and phosphorus bombs to try to pul down the twin revolts against Saddam. None of the claims could be inde pendently verified. Refugees fleeing Basra told re porters with U.S. troops in southern Iraq that rebels still held parts of the city and were being pounded by Iraqi artillery. Tehran radio, monitored by the BBC in London, said 12,(XX) to 16,000 people were reported killed on the highway between the Shiite holy cit ies of Najaf and Karbala in the Iraqi south. It gave no source for the figure. In Washington, Stale Department deputy spokesman Richard Boucher said there was heavy fighting between Iraqi forces and Kurdish dissidents in northern Iraq. - ii In the southern part of Iraq, especially the areas that are in the borderline between Iran and Iraq, this is some sort of no-man’s land. It is not under control of either the Iraqis or the Iranians. Crown Prince al-Sabah -99 “ He said the dissidents “now ap pear to be in control of large portions of predominantly Kurdish areas of northern and northeastern Iraq.” Fighting is also continuing in the south along the lower Tigris and Euphrates rivers and in the vicinity of Shia holy cities, he said, adding there had been damage to holy shrines. In Kuwait City, Crown Prince Saad Abdullah al-Sabah told U.S. congress men the Iraqi resistance has the upper hand in northern Iraq and in southern Iraq along Iran’s border. Based on intelligence reports, al Sabah said Iraqi forces “have not been able to control the situation, espe cially in the northern part of Iraq.’ “In the southern part of Iraq, espe cially the areas that arc in the border line between Iran and Iraq, this is some sort of no-man’s land. It is not under control of cither the Iraqis or the Iranians,” he said. Daily ^ Nebraskan Editor Eric Planner Night News Editois Pat Dlnslaga 472-1786 Kara Walls Managing Editor Victoria Ayotta Cindy Woatral Assoc News Editors Jana Pedersen Art Director Brian Shelllto „ Emily Rosenbaum General Manager Dan Shattll Editorial Page Editor Bob Nelson Production Manager Katharine Pollcky Wire Editor Jennifer 0'Cllka Advertising Manager Loran Melrose Copy Desk Editor Diane Brayton Sales Manager Todd Sears Sports Editor Paul Oomeier Publications Board Arts & Entertainment Chairman Bill Vobejda Editor Julie Naughton 436-9993 Diversions Editor Connie Sheehan Professional Adviser Don Walton Photo Chief William Lauer 473-7301 Daily Nebraskan(USPS 144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board. Ne j braska Union 34, 1400 R St., Lincoln, NE, Monday through Friday during the academic year; weekly during summer sessions. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by f phoning 4/2-1763 between 9 a m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The public also has access to the Publications Board. For Information, contact Bill Vobejda 436-9993 1 Subscription price is $45 for one year. ' ct chanfles 10 th* Dai|y Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34, 1400 R l St..Lincoln, NE 66588-0448. Second-class postage paid at Lincoln NE _ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1991 DAILY NEBRASKAN__