President Saddam Hussein

OUTLINE

I. Top Story

* A Confrontation in the gulf; Iraqi leader says he will free foreign women and children.

II. Other international News

* Mozambique moving to democracy

* U.S. to sell Saudis advanced arsenal

* In Moscow, cigarette addicts will get just half a pack a day

* Five U.N. powers announce accord on Cambodia war

III. National News

* Tornadoes kill 23 in Chicago region

* Panic on a Florida campus after 5 are slain

* Raging Utah fire slowed by crews

* Arab-Americans face wave of threats in U.S.

IV. Regional news

* Salute to new york schools begins

* New york city in violation on Diesel Soot

* Cost of fuel makes local drivers stingy

V. Local

* Cops to pranksters, return police radio at once

* 40-year-old arrested for park nudity

* Free pizza

VI. News features

* Battles so real they almost hurt

* Minimum terms for gulf peace

* Eating well

VII. Business

* Bias by age and credit is found in car rentals

* California sees housing boom become slump

* Business technology; what's the best answer? It's the survival of the fittest

VIII. Personal Birth note

At the top of the news today, President Saddam Hussein of Iraq announced tonight that he would allow the departure of all foreign women and children, whom he had previously barred from leaving his country. The Iraqi statement said that this decision to free the foreign women and children would be effective on Wednesday. Currently about 11,000 people from the United States, Britain, and about 20 other Western countries are trapped in Iraq and Kuwait. He started rounding up foreigners 10 days ago and is holding them as human shields against possible attack. His reasoning behind this "If the United States were to attack our installations in which we have men, women, children accommodated, these people would be killed" (Burns 1).

In other International news, Mozambique is taking multiple steps to change from a socialist one-party state into a democracy. They are creating a new political anthem, and multi-party elections are scheduled for next year. The motivation for reform is part of a strategy to end the 14-year civil war that has ruined this southern African nation. They are currently having peace talks with the group of rebels known as Renamo. So far the peace talks seem to be going over very well (Perlez A3).

The Bush Administration has agreed to sell Saudi Arabia a $6 billion emergency package of advanced weaponry, including F-15 fighter planes, M-60 tanks and stinger anti-aircraft missiles. Congress generally gives greater scrutiny to arms sales to Arab governments in the Middle East because of the United States' Close ties with Israel. But with a hostile Iraq threatening the region, those barriers are falling ("U.S. TO SELL SAUDIS ADVANCED ARSENAL" New York Times August 29, 1990: A17).

Moscow is currently facing a tobacco shortage that has produced street protests and riots in some cities. Irate smokers have blocked traffic in Moscow's central revolution square, and street protests have been reported in other cities. Moscow's City Council decided today to ration cigarettes starting this Saturday. Tobacco coupons will be issues in the same manner as sugar coupons, meaning every resident - including children and nonsmokers will get the same amount, about half a pack a day ("In Moscow, Cigarette Addicts will get just half pack a day" New York Times August 29, 1990: A2).

In other international news, the five permanent members of the Security Council announced an agreement today on the main elements of a wide-ranging political settlement that could end 20 years of civil war in Cambodia. They plan to transfer temporary control of the country to the United nations. The agreement, after eight months of negotiations, was concluded late Monday night and made public today. To take effect it would have to be accepted by the four competing military and political factions in Cambodia. As of today there was no immediate reaction from any of the four (Prial A1).

In national news today, Tornadoes ripped through several northern Illinois towns today, tossing automobiles into the air and flattening an apartment complex, a high school and at least 90 homes. At least 23 people were killed, and hospitals said 280 or more were injured. The tornadoes took the region by surprise. The National Weather Service in Chicago said it issued a thunderstorm watch about 1:30 P.M. , but the first tornado warning didn't come until 3:51 P.M. after the first reports of one striking in from Crest Hill ("Tornadoes kill 23 in Chicago region" New York Times august 29,1990: A19).

In other national news, Five college students have been slain in the past few days near the campus of the University of Florida, creating widespread panic that a serial killer is loose. The two latest victims were discovered this morning, and law-enforcement officials said later that all five slayings appeared to be connected. The killings are scaring many students, parents, and university administrators. Many students are arming themselves or leaving their apartments (Applebome D20).

In Midway, Utah a brush fire that killed two firefighters razed 19 houses and blackened more than 2,600 acres of timber and brush defied control today, although its progress slowed. Three hundred firefighters used aerial tankers, water-bearing helicopters and bulldozers to cut fire lines in an all-out assault on the blaze. They hope to have the fire under control by Wednesday evening ("Raging Utah fire slowed by crews" New York Times August 29, 1990: B6).

Since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait nearly a month ago, several dozen Arab-Americans have reported being threatened with death or receiving harassing telephone calls