Page:United Nations Security Council Meeting Record 2932.pdf/9

BCT/fc 12 (Mr. Kadrat, Iraq) Sixthly, my Govemment rejects the flagrant intervention by the United States of America in these events. This intervention is further evidence of the co-ordination and collusion between the United States Government and the previous Government of Kuwait.

My country's Government hopes that order will be swiftly restored in Kuwait and that the Kuwaitis themselves will decide upon their future, free from any outside intervention.

Mr. Pickering (United States of America): I want first, Sir, to take this opportunity to express my thanks to Ambassador Ismail Razali of Malaysia, your predecessor, for the splendid work he did in leading the Security Council last month, and to extend to you our congratulations and good wishes on your assumption of the presidency of the Council.

At about 6.30 p.m. yesterday Eastern Daylight Saving time, or shortly after midnight today in Kuwait and in Iraq, Iraqi forces moved into Kuwaiti territory, according to reports received from the United States Embassy in Kuwait. These military forces crossed over into Kuwaiti territory all along the frontier, according to these reports. They rapidly proceeded to Kuwait City and they are currently present in that city.

There was opposition to the movement of these military forces, firing and combat. We are not aware yet of the extent of casualties, but we are informed that Kuwaiti forces are resisting the advance of the Iraqis.

While the Iraqi invasion was carefully planned and professionally executed, the Iraqis at one salient point made a serious mistake. Instead of staging their coup d'état and installing this so-called free provisional government before the