VOL. XXXIV

NO. 20

18-FEBRUARY-1991

The Political Scene

Other developments in the Gulf were overshadowed when the Iraqis announcedshortly before MEES press time that they were prepared to withdraw from Kuwait.It rapidly emerged that this initiative - which may well have been the result oflast-ditch efforts by the Soviets to end the war - was so hedged with conditionsthat it was unlikely to result in a quick cease-fire, but at least it was astart, and Iraq's ideas will no doubt be further explored...