NATION AND WORLD
University Daily Kansan, March 7, 1984
Page 10
Iraq battles for its 'oil' island
By United Press International
BAGHAD, Iraq — Iraq announced it made a large counterattack yesterday against Iranian forces holding its oil-rich Majnoon Island, Iran said it crushed the offensive and killed or wounded 1,000 Iraqi troops.
The official Iraqi News Agency said Iraqi air force jets and helicopters carried out 338 raids on Iranian positions east of Basra, a southern port city, scoring "direct and effective hits" against the heavy losses in men and equipment."
Iraki government sources said most of the air raids were concentrated on the Majnoon sector, Iran said it overran that sector last week.
Arab League Secretary General Chediki Ilbil arrived in Baghdad after visits to other Arab countries for the US embassy. He fought the fighting, the news agency said.
IN LONDON, insurance underwriters said continuing fear of Iraqi attacks on Iran's main oil terminal at Kharg
landed to a doubling of the tanker war risk insurance rate yesterday from 0.75 percent of a vessel's value to 1.5 percent for seven days at Kharg Island.
The Baghdad government rejected U.S. accusations that Iraq was using chemical weapons against Iranian troops in the 42-month Persian Gulf War and accused Washington of being hypocritical.
An Iraqi government spokesman said, "We vehemently reject these false allegations of Iraq using chemical weapons."
The spokesman also criticized Washington's "war morals," citing the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and "horrible acts committed by the American troops in Vietnam and the deliberate shelling of civilian targets in Lebanon."
'IRAQI DEFENSE MINISTER Gen. Adnan Khairaa announced the new attack on Iranian positions. He said, "Fighting is now going on to dislodge the enemy" from Majnoon Island in the marshlands near the Iraq-Iran border
some 250 miles southeast of Baghdad.
He gave no details of the fighting.
The official Iranian news agency, IRNA, said, "Some 1,000 Iraq troops were killed or wounded by the Islamic liberation forces when they attacked in an intense battle south of the Majnoon Islands early this morning.
"In this futile counteroffensive which was carried out by five brigades of the 6th Iraqi Armored Division, the Islamic combatants also destroyed 15 Iraqi tanks, 15 personnel carriers and 25 vehicles," IRNA said in a dispatch monitored in London.
Majnoon Island, captured by Iranian troops Feb. 24, has a yet unused oil field with estimated reserves of 7 billion barrels.
Khairaalla indicated Iraq's forces were using artillery and other long-range fire to force the Iranian offs the 80-square-mile island. He said, "The oil fields are safe because the technicians capped well before the Iranians occupied Majnoun."
Weather puts chill on Mardi Gras
By United Press International
NEW ORLEANS — With shivers and brave smiles, weather depleted bands of Mardi Gras revelers yesterday bundled against the cold and found what sensual pleasures they could in the final hours before Lent.
From the narrow streets of the French Quarter to the broad avenues of the Garden District, celebrants huddled under blankets on patches of hot chocolate or stronger brews as a river of parades flowed past.
"This is the coldest it's ever been since I remember," said Burt Morton, dressed as a Spanish matador to his wife Alice's sequined senirita. "But it looks to me like as many people as normal."
routine, however, said crowds were significantly smaller than in past years.
THE WEATHERTWAS miserable for Fat Tuesday, the final festive day
before the beginning of Lent at midnight. Thunderstorms changed to drizzle at dawn, winds gusted to 25 mph and temperatures were in the chilly 40s.
In the Quarter, where down jackets and stocking caps outnumbered all other costumes, a family dressed as alligators flattened themselves against a building in hopes of avoiding the wind.
Some hearty souls, showing the effects of their favorite liquid antifreeze, turned out in shorts and other skimpy outfits, joining the familiar hordes of clowns, gorillas and wolfmen.
The endless stream of parades had the streets under leaden skies, starting with the krewe of Zulu. About 360 members of the all-black krewe, formed in 1980 to satirize white man's predilections and forcibly ornate floats, waving spears at the crowds and handing out coveted cocomuts.
At midday, Rex, the King of
Carnival, toasted his queen at the high-society Boston Club and then made his way slowly downtown along stately St. Charles Avenue.
MASKED RIDERS atop glittering floats pelted the crowds with "throws" trinkets, strings of beads and souvenir coins called doublons.
According to Christian tradition,
Fat Tuesday offers believers a final chance to indulge their senses before the austerity of Lent.
Police said arrests of drunks was down, but arrests for drug possession, especially cocaine, were up.
"The college students, the young people come down here thinking anything goes," said one judge. He then hated out we have some laws after all."
MEANWHILE, in Rio de Janeiro, violence plagued special festivities and a morgue official reported that 95 people had died since the beginning of the annual pre-Lenten event last Friday.
DANCE MARATHON—Noon to Midnight March 24th at the Knights of Columbus
March 21
All proceeds go to the
Muscular Distrophy Assoc.
Sponsored by:
A.U.R.H., I.F.C. and Panhellinic
Living group with most entrants will win a home computer—for more information call 846-4643
Registration deadline &
partners for dancers-March 7
Registration forms available
at A.U.R.H. & Panhellinic offices
SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON proudly presents
PADDY MURPHY
Brother Murphy, a reformed(?) alcoholic, under the the guidance of the Rev. Dicky Taylor will be giving a lecture entitled;
Too Young To Die, Too Drunk To Live"
dates and details forthcoming
PADDY MURPHY . . .
the tradition continues
INDOOR SOCCER MANAGERS MEETING *
7 p.m. TONIGHT Robinson 156
- Team must be represented
  Rosters turned in and fees paid
SOFTBALL OFFICIALS MEETING *
6 p.m. TONIGHT Robinson 156
- Be there if you wish to umpire for the spring season
SOFTBALL OFFICIALS CLINIC
4 p.m. March 8 Robinson Fields
EVERY MONDAY, TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
NIGHT FROM 9-11 P.M. ENJOY STRAWBERRY
DAIQUIRIS ON THE HOUSE, HAPPY HOUR PRICES
FOR QUYS. THE LADIES WILL BE THERE AND SO
WILL THE QUYS. THIS COULD BE THE BEST
THING WE'VE EVER DONE!
FREE STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRIS FOR LADIES!
INVITES YOU
(formerly the cabaret)
TO
K. U. NIGHT wed.march 7
SPECIAL DRINK PRICES
WITH CURRENT K.U.I.D.
9pm-3am
5024 main kc..mo.
co-sponsored by g.l.s.o.k