AS THE build up of US military strength for a strike against Iraq continues, President Clinton has sent his Secretary for Defence, Mr William Perry, for urgent consultations with countries in the Gulf region.
The move follows Iraq's announcement that it will suspend attacks on allied aircraft patrolling the northern and southern no fly zones. The US State Department spokesman, said this would be a step towards defusing tensions in the Gulf" and would be "a wise move on Saddam's part".
But the White House spokesman, Mr Mike McCurry, said: "Actions speak louder than words and we'll be looking at actions not statements."
President Clinton had earlier summoned his top national security, military and diplomatic advisers to a meeting in the White House to review policy towards Iraq. This was seen as an indication that the lack of international support for further US strikes is causing concern.
While the Republican opposition is continuing to criticise Mr Clinton for allowing President Saddam Hussein to regain control of the Kurdish region at minimum cost, it is also demanding that US policy be spelled out more clearly and that the Gulf War coalition be repaired.
The former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Colin Powell, who was also the Gulf War commander, said: "The President has to be cautious and make sure that any policies that get us deeply enmeshed in those ancient rivalries be thoroughly explained to the American people".
White House aides seemed to be responding to this advice when they indicated that the priority for the US now is to "contain" Mr Saddam rather than embark immediately on further strikes.
The Pentagon, however, was continuing the military build up on the assumption that a further strike was only a question of timing. The fact that the Defence Secretary, Mr Perry, and not the Secretary of State, Mr Warren Christopher, has been sent to consult with Gulf area allies signals that military action is still on the agenda.
The purpose of the trip is to talk to the governments of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain about "providing the support we would need to carry out various operations in the region and to explain exactly what possible missions might be, in this case to keep the no fly zone effectively in force", a US official said.
US ships, aircraft and troop reinforcements are converging on the Gulf region this weekend. The eight F 117 Stealth aircraft, which can evade radar and deliver 2,000lb precision bombs, have arrived in Kuwait.
Four B 52 bombers which can launch cruise missiles are poised for action at the British base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, is sailing from the Mediterranean towards the Gulf and should arrive there tomorrow.
US Patriot missile crews are also on their way to Saudi Arabia where they will reinforce defences against possible Scud missile attacks from Iraq.
Meanwhile in Baghdad, a spokesman said the Iraqi decision to suspend its threat to shoot down allied aircraft was taken in response to a request from Russia and not under US pressure.
China said yesterday that it strongly opposed a further US attack on Iraq.
Reuter adds: The US is sending 5,000 Army troops to Kuwait, the Defence Department in Washington said early this morning. The troops, from the First Calvary Division at Fort Hood, Texas, will be flown to Kuwait this weekend to join 1,200 others who have been in Kuwait since August.