US embassy cable - 03KUWAIT1023

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001023 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT ALSO FOR USAID - DCHA/OFDA 
 
GENEVA FOR UNDRO AND LRCS 
 
USCINCCENT ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR, AMGT, PREL, ASEC, CASC, EAID, KU 
SUBJECT: SITREP NO. 6 
 
REF: KUWAIT 1013 AND PREVIOUS 
 
1. SITREP NO. 6 AS OF 2359 HOURS LOCAL, 1559 HOURS 
WASHINGTON TIME MARCH 21. 
 
2. EVENTS SINCE LAST SITREP (all reported times are 
Kuwait Local, GMT plus three): 
 
----------------- 
Security/Military 
----------------- 
 
In the past twelve hours, we have had two "duck-and- 
cover" alerts in response to reported launches of 
surface-to-surface missiles from Iraq.  The most recent 
was at approximately 2326.  No/no reports of damage 
or casualties, nor any indication of chemical or 
biological warheads were reported. 
 
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Political 
--------- 
 
The Kuwaiti MFA contacted the Ops Center to confirm the legitimacy of 
applications being made in their London Embassy on behalf of ORHA.  W 
Kuwait Desk Officer and ORHA team members in Kuwaiti, Ops Officer was 
confirm the applications were legitimate and pass this information to 
 
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Consular 
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The remaining stranded Amcit passengers reported earlier have departe 
Kuwait Airways for Chicago via London this afternoon. 
 
Fourteen Amcits have requested Embassy assistance to depart from Kuwa 
the majority have requested assistance in obtaining flight reservatio 
have requested assistance with Saudi transit visas.  Embassy Consular 
will be assisting these Amcits tomorrow a.m.  Embassy Consular office 
Warden Notice number 11, which reinforced all previous warnings to Am 
citizens living in Kuwait to be vigilant and practice good personal s 
security measures.  Kuwait International Airport remains open, althou 
carriers have suspended or restricted service.  However, Kuwait Airwa 
flying at close to normal operations. 
 
An Embassy Consular officer and FSN met with Congen Dhahran and Kuwai 
officials at the Kuwaiti/Saudi border today.  The Kuwaiti border offi 
reported that no Americans citizens have tried to cross the border si 
start of hostilities between Iraq and U.S.  Kuwaiti authorities claim 
during the past few days, approximately 5,000 Arabs/Kuwaitis have cro 
Kuwaiti/Saudi border, which is down from a normal of 12,000 people on 
weekend.  The Consular officer and Congen confirmed that the Saudi Em 
Kuwait will issue gratis "emergency transit visas" to American citize 
Kuwait, if the situation deteriorated. 
 
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Management 
---------- 
 
At the request of TFIZ01, we confirmed through OMC-K that, as of 1655 
fires had been set by Iraqi forces at the Rumalya oil/gas separation 
of the 9 were extinguished by civilian contractors moving with the 1s 
Expeditionary Force (1MEF) in Southern Iraq.  This contradicts a CNN 
fifteen oil fires were burning in Rumalya. 
 
3. COMMENTS: None 
 
4. STATUS OF PENDING REQUESTS: See above. 
 
JONES