Iraqi TV Airs King’s Speech Blasting Regime

Iraq has broadcast a speech by Jordan’s King Hussein which Kuwait hailed as a turning point that could help bring down Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

State television and Shebab TV--a channel run by the Iraqi leader’s son Uday--broadcast the full speech without comment Wednesday. In it, the king criticized Saddam Hussein and accused his government of planning to invade Kuwait.

An announcer on state-run television told viewers that they were “enlightened enough” to hear the speech in full and draw their own conclusions.

It was followed by a patriotic song whose lyrics said the Iraqi people would support their president no matter what happened.

In Kuwait, an official who declined to be identified said the king’s speech was “positive and important” and that he expected further steps to isolate the Iraqi regime.

King Hussein strongly criticized Saddam Hussein but stressed that he had no intentions of closing Jordan’s borders with Iraq.

His speech followed the Aug. 8 defections to Jordan of two of Saddam Hussein’s daughters and their husbands, one of whom was a key Iraqi military aide.