ABU DHABI Ñ The United States has taken extra security precautions for a new military exercise
in Kuwait after receiving intelligence that Al Qaida was mounting a campaign in the region to stop a U.S. war against Iraq.
The preparations for the Operation Desert Spring exercise came as U.S.
troops again reported shots fired near a new military base, Middle East Newsline reported. Kuwaiti
officials said they believe the shooting was that of hunters.
But on Monday, the Kuwaiti A-Rai Al Aam daily reported that Kuwait's
military foiled an attempt to attack U.S. forces in Camp Doha. The newspaper
said Kuwaiti security forces stopped a former Kuwaiti officer from entering
Camp Doha in an attempt to launch a strike on U.S. soldiers.
A senior source
told the newspaper that the officer tried to drive a car full of weapons
into the military camp on early Sunday. The Kuwaiti national was arrested
and remanded for 10 days.
Arab diplomatic sources said the United States has also asked Gulf
Cooperation Council states to shut off lights at night at government
ministries, airports, hospitals and miltiary barracks. The A-Siyassa daily
said the U.S. request came in response to new information that Al Qaida was
planning to attack targets in Kuwait and other Gulf Arab states in a drive
to stop the United States from attacking Iraq.
Kuwaiti authorities have closed about one third of the country near the
Iraqi border. The closure took place over the weekend and will last about a
month.
The security measures were decided after U.S. troops were attacked by
Islamic insurgents during an exercise outside Kuwait City last month. One
U.S. marine was killed and another was injured in the attack, attributed to
a cell inspired by Al Qaida.
The United States has pressed Kuwait to sign an accord that would grant
immunity to U.S. soldiers and nationals operating in the sheikdom. The
agreement is meant to prevent Kuwait from surrendering to an international
criminal court Americans accused of war crimes.
Kuwaiti sources said the sheikdom has been negotiating the draft accord
with the State Department. Thirteen countries have signed similar immunity
agreements with the United States.
