960402

Kuwait to

strengthen its

border with Iraq

KUWAIT: Kuwait's cabinet said it had ordered improvements to fortifications on its border with former occupier Iraq aimed at stopping Iraqis entering illegally.

"The cabinet approved yesterday the execution of phase two of the security belt project aimed at tightening control of the northern border area," a cabinet statement published on Tuesday in Kuwait's six daily newspapers said.

The statement said the cabinet had approved financing of the work but did not elaborate on the details of the plan.

Officials have said they planned to install electronic surveillance with floodlighting and sensors on fortifications constructed in early 1994 aimed at keeping out infiltrators.

Infiltrations have continued since the fortifications were buil along the 207 km (130 mile) desert frontier.

The fortifications comprise a three metre (10-foot) deep and five metre (16-foot) wide trench and a tar-covered, four metre (13 feet) high sand rampart. Both features are about 50 metres (160 feet) from the actual borderline.

The fortifications are not intended as a form of military defence. Iraqis have crossed the closed border to loot farms, collect arms left on Gulf War battlefields or seek asylum in third countries since the 1991 conflict ended a seven-month Iraqi occupation, Kuwaiti officials say.-Reuter