The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
31.
To maintain
control in Iraq, Saddam Hussein used extreme brutality, wilfully
violating
international
human rights norms and covenants. Following Iraq’s expulsion from
Kuwait,
his
opponents inside Iraq mounted two separate, but parallel, attempts
to overthrow
the regime.
32.
On
1 March 1991, demonstrations in Basra and Najaf developed into
battles
between
Shia fighters and Saddam Hussein’s security forces. Within days,
the unrest
had spread
to all the main Shia cities in southern Iraq. At the same time,
Kurdish forces
saw an
opportunity to seize control of northern Iraq and by 20 March
they had captured
every city
in the North, including Kirkuk. Saddam Hussein’s forces responded
with brutal,
indiscriminate
force, using helicopter gunships and artillery to crush the
resistance.
Thousands
of Shia and Kurdish citizens were killed and many more fled their
homes,
particularly
in the North, where they were caught in the mountains on the
borders.
33.
Initially,
coalition states were reluctant to intervene for a number of
reasons
including:
inhibitions about interference in the internal affairs of Iraq and
being
sucked into
a civil war; concerns about the break-up of Iraq; and fears of a
possible
revolutionary
Shia government. But outrage at Saddam Hussein’s actions, and
claims
that
coalition rhetoric had encouraged the uprisings,3
led to
decisions to take action.
US
commanders warned that they would shoot down any Iraqi aircraft
flying over the
country;
two Iraq Su-22 aircraft were subsequently shot down, one on 15 and
one
on 22 March.
34.
On
5 April, the Security Council adopted resolution 688 (1991),
which condemned
“the
repression of the Iraqi civilian population in many parts of Iraq”
and demanded
that “Iraq,
as a contribution to removing the threat to international peace and
security
in the
region, immediately end this repression”.4
It insisted
that “Iraq allow immediate
access by
international humanitarian organisations”; requested the
Secretary-General
“to pursue
his humanitarian efforts in Iraq”; and appealed to all Member
States “to
contribute
to these humanitarian relief efforts”.
35.
By early
April, however, Saddam Hussein had already regained control. Iraq’s
ruling
Revolutionary
Command Council announced on 5 April “the complete crushing of
acts
of
sedition, sabotage, and rioting in all towns of Iraq”. Refugees
were moving towards
the borders
with Turkey and Iran and, because the border with Turkey was
closed, their
position
caused serious concern. On 6 April, the US-led Operation
Provide Comfort
3
Dr Barham
Salih, the Kurdistan Front spokesman in London, was reported in
the Los Angeles
Times on
8 April
saying that the Kurds felt a bitter sense of betrayal, having taken
President Bush’s encouragement
of an Iraqi
revolt literally. “I don’t know of any other interpretation … There
was a clear statement that
Saddam
ought to be removed and the Iraqi people will be
supported.”
4
UN Security
Council resolution 688 (1991).
30