DATE= 5-13-02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S-JORDAN-IRAQ (S)

NUMBER=2-289756

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE= STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Jordan's King Abdullah has finished a Washington visit with a warning against U-S military action against Iraq. He says such a conflict, on top of the already-serious Israeli-Palestinian situation, would be "devastating" for the region. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

TEXT: The Jordanian monarch says the Iraqi leadership needs to be told that international public opinion is strongly against them because of their defiance of the U-N weapons inspections regime. But at a luncheon sponsored by Washington's Brookings Institution, he appealed for a further chance for dialogue with Saddam Hussein and said a U-S move against Iraq -- given the already-inflamed situation in the region -- would have devastating effects:

///King Abdullah actuality///

With the Israeli-Palestinian crisis going on, with the anger and frustration throughout the Middle East really at levels people cannot take any more, another armed conflict in the region would be too much for people to bear. And I think that let's give dialogue a chance.

///end act///

The Bush administration has openly made "regime change" in Iraq a U-S policy goal though King Abdullah, under questioning at the luncheon, suggested there are differences -- even among top administration officials -- over how to achieve that. (Signed)

NEB/DAG/MEM