Iraqis Line Up for Gasoline Ahead of Tuesday’s Rationing

Iraqis waited in long lines at gas stations Saturday to stock up before gasoline rationing begins Tuesday. A diplomat described the rationing as the “first bite” of the U.N.-sponsored sanctions.

Lines of 20 to 30 cars snaked outside gas stations throughout the Iraqi capital, a day after Oil Minister Issam Abdul-Rahim Chalabi announced the rationing to conserve imported chemicals used in refining oil. Some stations ran out of gas.

Although Iraq is a major oil producer, it can no longer import the chemical additives required to make gasoline.

It is not known how long Iraq’s stores of the additives will last and, more important, how long those reserves can keep the motorized army functioning, European diplomats said.

In Paris, American Defense Secretary Dick Cheney noted the gas rationing Saturday and said, “There is growing evidence that the sanctions are beginning to have an impact on the Iraqi economy.”

The government opened 57 centers in Baghdad to distribute coupons allowing taxis 26 gallons of gasoline a week, and private cars 13 gallons.

“The sanctions have given their first bite to the Iraqis,” said an Asian diplomat based here.

Diplomats said the gas rationing would have an immediate effect on prices of other consumer goods, which already are spiraling. Prices of such commodities as cigarettes, biscuits and canned goods rose 5% Saturday.

Some Iraqis expressed bewilderment at the rationing.

“During our war with Iran there was a lot of talk about rationing, but actually there was hardly any,” said one Baghdad resident.

Meanwhile, Former British Prime Minister Edward Heath arrived in Baghdad on Saturday to ask President Saddam Hussein to free sick or dying Britons.

Heath said on arrival from Amman, where he met with Jordan’s King Hussein, that his mission is purely humanitarian and that he has no plans for political discussions on the Persian Gulf crisis. He was to meet Saddam Hussein today.

“I shall limit myself to those who want to return home,” he told reporters. “I’m not a member of any government. I don’t pass messages.”

Heath, Conservative prime minister from 1970 to 1974, created a storm in Britain last month when he urged world leaders to negotiate with Hussein to avoid war in the gulf.

About 1,400 Britons are trapped in Iraq and Kuwait, the highest number of any Western country. More than 40 are reported to be elderly, sick or dying.

Six elderly Germans held in Iraq flew to Amman on Saturday on the same Iraqi Airways plane that brought Heath to Baghdad.