AREA BRIEFS

Created: 8/3/1979

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

5. IRAtf: ALTHOUGH UE DO NOT YET KNOU UHAT TOUCHED OFF THE

CURRENT POLITICAL TURBULENCE IN IRAtf* OUR BEST ESTIMATE IS THAT PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSAYN OVERREACTED TO SUGGESTIONS

THERS IN THE LEADERSHIP THAT HE HOLD OVERDUE BAATH PARTY ELECTIONS TO LEGITIMIZE HIS SUCCESSION TO THE PRESIDENCY. UE HAVE NC HARD EVIDENCE POINTING TO ANPLOT OR COUP ATTEMPT.

SPECULATION ABOUT SYRIAN BACKINGONSPIRACY AGAINST THE REGIME CONTINUES TO ABOUND IN BAGHDAD EVEN THOUGH THE GOVERNMENT'S OFFICIAL EXPLANATION STOPPED SHORT OF ACCUSING THE SYRIANS- A SECOND HIGH-RANKING SYRIAN VISITED BAGHDAD* REPORTEDLY EARLIER THISHIS UAS PROBABLY A FURTHER ATTEMPT BY SYRIAN PRESIDENT ASSAD TO ASSURE THE IRAfllS THAT HE HAD NO CONTACTS UITH THE ACCUSED. SOME DETERIORATION IN BILATERAL RELATIONS SEEMS INEVITABLE. UNLESS IT IS ARRESTED* IT COULD THE UNIFIED ARAB EFFORT TO ISOLATE EGYPTIANSADAT.