Star-Phoenix from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada • 1

Inside today: A profile of Saddam Hussein A13 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Wednesday, January 16, 1091 Suggested Price: 50 Cents Mon to Thurs 75 Cents Fri and Sat sunny High -3 Low -8 Details A2 ALLS QUIET ON THE FRONT: The deadline the world had feared came and went, and no shots were fired But there seems to be no one in the world who doesnt expect an outbreak at any moment as the two forces massed in the Middle East grow nervous and restless. As fingers tighten on triggers or poise above missile buttons, the only question seems to be when the first attack will occur and what form it will take an air strike, a missile or a ground assault. Despite prayers and demonstrations for peace, neither side gave any indication of backing down. War, it seems, is inevitable. Iraq declared a furnace of hell awaits anyone trying to dislodge its 545,000 troops from Kuwait.

What Saddam faced was thousands of combat aircraft, scores of warships and some of the worlds most sophisticated weapons, spearheaded by 415,000 troops. NBC News said Tuesday night air force B-52 bombers had been moved to bases in a Persian Gulf country it did not identify. The air force has never conceded B-52s have been assigned to Operation Desert Shield but a detachment is known to have been based at Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean Lt-Col Stuart Wagner, a Pentagon spokesman, said he could not comment on the network report. Iraqs ambassador to the United From AP-CP-Reuter The deadline that frees a -led force to attack Iraq over its occupation of Kuwait passed early today with no signal from Washington or Baghdad that the Gulf crisis could be settled peacefully. As the midnight EST deadline passed, President Saddam Husseins forces and the more than 680,000 and allied troops were ready to begin a new countdown to war.

Barring an attack by Iraq, the start of a Persian Gulf war now lies in the hands of President George Bush and allied leaders. Bush, armed with congressional authorization to drive Iraq from Kuwait, was described as resolute and at peace with himself. States, Mohamed Sadiq Al-Mashat, left Washington with several aides Tuesday night on his way to London and then Baghdad Four other Iraqi diplomats will remain at the embassy. Baghdads defiance combined with a worldwide clamor of last-minute appeals to Saddam and anti-war protests The deadline time was 8 am. today in Baghdad, where the Iraqi government gave no last-minute sign it was willing to withdraw from Kuwait, which it overran Aug.

2. After the deadline, set Nov. 29 by the United Nations Security Council, UN members have the right to drive Iraq out of Kuwait by force. Its expiration did not mean war was inevitable, but exhausted diplomats said efforts to find a peaceful solution were practically dead At a packed news conference six hours before the deadline's expiration, UN Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar made a final appeal to Saddam to withdraw his troops and avert war He assured Iraq that once it begins a decisive withdrawal, its forces would not be attacked He said he also had promises from the highest levels of government that with the crisis over, every effort will be made to address, in a comprehensive manner, the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the Palestinan question. SASKATOON -r BAGHDAD i i I ii' fn'XV I I fj WHAT TIME IS While the dreaded deadline for Iraq was 11 oclock last evening in Saskatoon, in the Middle East it was 8 am.

Wednesday, as shown on the clocks pictured above The Arab world is nine hours ahead of Saskatoon, so what we think of as a nighttime event actually could be taking place in the bright morning sun on the desert. Of course, that is assuming there is sun. A couple of days ago, what the world pictures as endless sand actually was a sea of mud as ram poured down on the troops massing on both sides of the Iraqi jli Solar eclipse ominous sign WELLINGTON (Reuter) Hours before the deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, skies darkened over New Zealand today as the moon eclipsed the sun traditionally a sign of impending doom. The rare solar eclipse unsettled even usually hard-headed, financial-market dealers as they awaited what seemed certain war in the Persian Gulf. In ancient times an eclipse was a symbol of impending doom and it certainly seems appropriate today, said one bond-dealer.

Shortly after midday, less than six hours before the UN deadline, the moon blocked more than 90 per cent of the suns disc, leaving only a dazzling ring of light. Office workers, school children and retirees crowded into the streets of Wellington, peering through swirling low clouds to catch glimpses of the eclipse. Astrologer Allison Mclver added to the sombre mood by studying the eclipses effect on Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Unfortunately, its a triggering point in his chart which shows that he seeks power at any price, she said. Its an aspect which shows he believes that might makes nghL I 1 A 4t I 'I I ki LOCAL 1 Oil THOSE CIRCLES: The people youd least expect it from say there is a perfectly natural explanation for mysterious circles in gram fields A UFO research group blames them on an invasion of a type of worm.

But a couple of University of Saskatchewan scientists dont buy that, although neither is attnbuting the circles to any extra-terrestrial bemgs. Some kind of whirlwind is their better guess. A3 Prayers for peace Panshioners at Lakeview Free Methodist Church joined people line lor Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait moved into the final hours. (S-from around the world Tuesday in prayers for peace as the dead- Photo by Glen Berger) NATIONAL mwm mm RUMORS ABOUND: Its been 40 years since Canadian troops were at war and there is some feeling around the country its been so long, weve forgotten how to do it. In Ottawa, there are some questioning whether Canada even has a mobilization plan or whether federal bureaucrats know what to do the event of war.

Rumors about further involvement also are heard. Discounted is one report that 5,000 more troops will be sent to the Gulf, but given widespread credence is another rumor that 12 more CF-18s soon will be heading out. A16, B18 Canada prepared to go to war McKnight in hottest seat From Wartime to wartime INTERNATIONAL rfc Vs i A SQUEEZED: Jordan is caught in the middle, figuratively and literally. A nation respected by both sides in the Gulf conflict, it sits squarely between Iraq and Israel. Neither nation wants to upset Jordans King Hussein and, so long as they dont, he wants to remain neutral any fighting.

But if Iraq and Israel battle, Jordans airspace will be fit HUSSEIN violated and any ground action could turn it into a killing field. B14 STARLINE T'V fl I Blues 7, Capitals 3 WHL Chiefs 5, Blades 4 Warriors 8, Tigers 7 If "7JT J' NHL Bruins 5, Islanders 4 Oilers 2, Rangers 2 Flyers 5, Penguins 4 Habs 5, N.Stars 1 By Vern Greenshields S-P Ottawa Correspondent OTTAWA When the Second World War broke out in 1939, Canadas current defence minister had not yet been born. Although he was a farm kid in Saskatchewan when Canada became involved in the Korean War, the stretches of peace for Canada have been long Bill McKmghts lifetime and he never thought he would be sitting at the handles of Canadas war machine at a time of war. I dont want people to think Im calling the shots on Canada with my responsibilities (as defence minister), he said an interview, but no, I had not considered that part of my political career. McKnights political career began at the provincial level, where he teamed up with former Saskatchewan PC leader Dick Collver to rebuild a shell of a Tory party into a viable political force.

He rose to party president while Collver took the PCs to official opposition status in 1978. Both left their positions about the same time shortly thereafter, with Collver heading to the United States to augment his fortune, while McKnight ran and won a seat in the 1979 federal election. He has won the Kindersley-Lloydmin-ster seat every vote since. If there has been a consistency in the portfolios he has held since the Conservatives formed government in 1984, it has been his lack of background in any of them and his quiet, scandal-free running of each i V. By Vern Greenshields S-P Ottawa Correspondent OTTAWA Canada reaffirmed Tuesday it will join other countries a war effort to oust Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, should it come to that.

MPs debated into the night the merits of the governments decision as the House reconvened to deal with the Persian Gulf crisis, but Prime Minister Brian Mulroney indicated in his opening remarks the direction he intended to take his majority government and he ruled out a free vote on the matter. The question before Canadians now is a simple one: if Saddam Hussein does not withdraw peacefully from Kuwait, and the use of force is required, where will Canada stand? On this simple question of right and wrong, will we continue to support the international coalition or will we stand aside and hope others will uphold the rule of law? Our entire policy has been designed to achieve a peaceful solution to (the crisis). If, however, Saddam Hussein continues to reject the will of the United Nations, Canada will join with the United Nations in expelling him from Kuwait by force, Mulroney told the House. The Opposition parties argued for more time to let economic sanctions subdue Iraq, but both Mulroney and External Affairs Minister Joe Clark rejected those pleas. They said tne sanctions are only hurting Iraqi civilians, while Saddam keeps goods and services for his military machine a priority.

This is a man who has put his nation through eight pointless years of a war (with Iran) that took almost a million lives So pointless, in fact, that in August he gave back almost everything he had taken from Iran to purchase Iranian neutrality this conflict He will not hesitate to pass on any amount of suffering and deprivation to his countrymen, said Mulroney. As well, Clark argued that by making midnight Tuesday a mobile deadline, the UN would lose its credibility being able to impose a deadline as an effective threat. S-P Photo Potential for war has thrust Bill McKnight into political spotlight First he was given the Labor ministry and responsibility for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, neither of which are main items of discussion on coffee row in Wartime, the small community in west-central Saskatchewan nearest his farm. Indian Affairs and Northern Development followed, and then responsibility for Western Diversifica tion, which he at least had a hand in creating Throughout those portfolios, McKnight was largely successful in keeping the spotlights averted. He inherited the Defence Department from Perrin Beatty, whose white paper had created great expectations among the military.

MORE ON PAGE A4 How do I know youre not a minor? INDEX All calm on the desert, says Closson OUR NUMBERS Newsroom 664-8231 Circulation 664-8320 Classified 653-2100 Display Ads 664-8340 Switchboard 652-9200 Monday to Thursday I after company officials reviewed the situation late Tuesday, said Closson. Were not moving out even if war docs break out, he said. The company figures this would be the safest place to be. Were damn secure here, were outside the range (of Iraqi missiles), were not a target. Closson is scheduled to return home next Tuesday on a regular shift change.

his home in Clair about 60 kilometres east of Humboldt and worried about his safety, Closson said the deadline passed without incident. Things are fine, its a bright sunny day, people are a little nervous, of course, ne said in a telephone interview about 45 minutes after the deadline passed I slept like a baby. Evacuation plans have been scuttled By Terry Craig of the Star-Phoenix It was business as usual in the desert as the United Nations-imposed deadline for the withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait was reached, says Barry Closson, who works in Saudi Arabia While his wife, mother and mother-in-law gathered around a television set at Ann Landers Bit Art Robinson A2 Business B1S-B17 Classified C1-C8 Comics B14 Forum A5 Lifestyle B5-B11 Lotteries B8 Paul Martin B15 ProvJCity A6 A11-A13 B1-B4 TV Listings B8 786 00001 mm Second Class Mall Registration Number 0098.