
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 1, 1991                   TAG: 9102010659
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: UNITED NATIONS                                LENGTH: Short

DIPLOMATS RESIST CEASE-FIRE DEBATE

The U.N. Security Council on Thursday resisted an Arab attempt to force a public debate on a cease-fire in the widening Persian Gulf war.

"Our sense is that the members of the council are clearly going to continue to keep their interest in this very high," U.S. Ambassador Thomas Pickering said.

"But at this point [they] don't see any further action can be taken until Saddam Hussein indicates that he's ready to comply with the resolutions" demanding that he withdraw his troops from Kuwait and restore the emirate's government, he said.

U.S. diplomats said privately that they had firm instructions from Washington to see that no public debate takes place.

At the request of Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Tunisia and Sudan, Cuba and Yemen - two council members that have voted against several gulf council resolutions - have tried for over a week to open such a debate.

But the majority of the council has rebuffed them.

The North African nations have been circulating a peace plan that would have the council declare a cease-fire so Saddam can withdraw his troops, while Arab peace keepers took their place. The 28-nation allied coalition would also withdraw its forces.

But diplomats said they believe that unless Saddam indicates willingness to withdraw from Kuwait, the council will continue to refuse to debate the gulf war, or consider any statement or resolution.

by CNB