Voice of America, 98-08-16

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] N.IRELAND/BOMB L UPDATE BY LAURIE KASSMAN DATELINE=LONDON

[02] CLINTON IRELAND (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

[01] N.IRELAND/BOMB L UPDATE BY LAURIE KASSMAN DATELINE=LONDON

INTRO: IN NORTHERN IRELAND, OFFICIALS HAVE LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION TO FIND OUT WHO CARRIED OUT THE DEADLY CAR BOMB ATTACK IN THE MARKET TOWN OF OMAGH AS RESIDENTS THERE GO THROUGH THE GRIM TASK OF IDENTIFYING THE DEAD. AT LEAST 28 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND MORE THAN 200 INJURED IN THE SATURDAY BLAST. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON THAT POLITICIANS ARE CONDEMNING THE ATTACK, BUT PLEDGING NOT TO LET IT DERAIL THE PEACE PROCESS .

TEXT: NOBODY HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OMAGH ATTACK, BUT POLITICIANS BLAME A DISSIDENT REPUBLICAN GROUP KNOWN AS "THE REAL I-R-A". POLICE COMMANDER RONNIE FLANAGAN TOLD BRITISH T-V THERE ARE SOME PRIME SUSPECTS, BUT THE INVESTIGATION HAS JUST BEGUN.

IT IS TOO SOON TO PRECISELY SAY, BUT I PREFER TO GET ALL THE EVIDENCE TO REVIEW ALL THE INTELLIGENCE. IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT OUR FOCUS AT THIS POINT IN TIME WOULD BE ON THOSE WHO CALL THEMSELVES "THE 32 COUNTY SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT" AND THOSE CLOSE TO THEM, BUT IT IS TOO SOON TO BE MORE PRECISE THAN THAT.

WHILE FORENSIC EXPERTS SIFT THROUGH THE RUBBLE FOR CLUES, FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TRY TO IDENTIFY THE DEAD. AT LEAST TWO SPANIARDS ARE LISTED AMONG THE VICTIMS -- MEMBERS OF A SCHOOL GROUP VISITING OMAGH'S FESTIVAL.

PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR CUT SHORT HIS VACATION TO HEAD FOR NORTHERN IRELAND TO CONSULT WITH LEADERS THERE.

POLITICIANS WHO FORGED THE GOOD-FRIDAY PEACE AGREEMENT LAST APRIL ALL HAVE CONDEMNED THE TERRORIST ATTACK. NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE FRAGILE PEACE PROCESS AS ANGER OVER THE TERRORIST ATTACKS SPREADS.

CONSERVATIVE PARTY SPOKESMAN ANDREW MACKAY WARNS AGAINST LETTING SMALL GROUPS OF EXTREMISTS DISRUPT THE PROCESS.

THERE IS ONE QUESTION THAT HAS TO BE ASKED. WHY WAS THERE THIS CARNAGE ON THE STREETS OF OMAGH. THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE WHATEVER EXTREME BREAK-AWAY REPUBLICAN GROUP IS RESPONSIBLE, THEY WANTED TO DERAIL THE PEACE PROCESS AND WRECK THE AGREEMENT. BUT THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND AND POLITICIANS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED KINGDOM ARE NOT GOING TO BE BLACKMAILED BY THIS SORT OF VIOLENCE.

ULSTER UNIONIST SPOKESMAN DUNCAN DALTON TOLD BRITISH RADIO IT IS UP TO IRISH PRIME MINISTER BERTIE AHERN TO CRACK DOWN ON EXTREMIST GROUPS.

IT IS TIME FOR MR AHERN TO TAKE THE RUTHLESS ACTION NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THESE PEOPLE DO NOT ANY LONGER HAVE THE LIBERTY TO CARRY OUT THESE ACTS.

THE IRISH MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS SAYS CONSULTATIONS ALREADY ARE UNDER WAY TO SEE ABOUT TIGHTENING SECURITY MEASURES THROUGHOUT IRELAND TO TRY TO PREVENT MORE TERRORIST ATTACKS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/DW/RAE
16-Aug-98 11:39 AM EDT (1539 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] CLINTON IRELAND (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS CONDEMNED THE BOMBING IN OMAGH, NORTHERN IRELAND AS "BUTCHERY". AIDES SAY IT WILL NOT AFFECT HIS PLAN TO VISIT NORTHERN IRELAND EARLY NEXT MONTH. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE PRESIDENT ISSUED A WRITTEN STATEMENT CALLING THE BOMBING A "BARBARIC ACT" AIMED AT WRECKING NORTHERN IRELAND'S HOPES FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION.

MR. CLINTON SAID HE RENEWS HIS PLEDGE TO STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND AGAINST THE PERPETRATORS OF VIOLENCE, WHOM HE SAID WILL FIND NO FRIENDS IN THE UNITED STATES.

A SPOKESMAN SAID HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY INTENTION TO ALTER THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN TO VISIT NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE IRISH REPUBLIC EARLY NEXT MONTH.

MR. CLINTON HAS MADE THE IRISH PEACE PROCESS A TOP FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITY. AND HE IS TO STOP IN BELFAST AND DUBLIN ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE MOSCOW SUMMIT TO CELEBRATE THE PEACE ACCORD REACHED WITH U-S MEDIATION EARLIER THIS YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/CBL/SD
15-Aug-98 8:00 PM EDT (0000 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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