Cablegate: July 25 Disturbance On Iraq/Kuwait Border

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003287

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS ASEC PREL IZ KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS
SUBJECT: JULY 25 DISTURBANCE ON IRAQ/KUWAIT BORDER

1. (SBU) An estimated 800-1000 Iraqi civilians converged on
the closed border crossing point at Umm Qasr the morning of
July 25 protesting lack of compensation for farm land lost
due to the UN border demarcation. Kuwaiti contractors
working on emplacing a pipeline barrier along the border were
threatened by stonethrowers and withdrew under the protection
of Kuwaiti border police. Senior MFA and MOD officials
separately contacted the Embassy to apprise of the situation,
but made no specific request for assistance. Eventually,
British MND-SE forces assisted in generating an Iraqi police
response and the protestors moved to a district governorate
office in Umm Qasr to register their demands for compensation.

2. (SBU) Upon receipt of the information we coordinated with
U.S. and British military to facilitate an appropriate
response and to diffuse the situation. Reportedly there was
some minor physical damage at the border post but no
injuries. This episode involved larger numbers of Iraqis
than previous clashes at spots along the sensitive border,
highlighting the ongoing need for regular coordination
between Iraqi and Kuwaiti border police to prevent more
serious incidents.
TUELLER

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