December 12, 2002	Thursday	Shawwal 7, 1423

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 11: Kuwait said on Wednesday it has reinforced the precautionary measures and tightened the security to guarantee its sovereignty, after the Iraqi president Saddam Hussain made the provocative speech.

In a press statement, Kuwait’s Defence Minister Sheikh Jabar Al Mubarak Al Sabah said the tone of Iraqi president speech was clearly seen as escalation and it was necessary to carry out certain measure to protect the Kuwaiti people.

The minister denied that there was any connection between such precautionary measures with any report from the US of an attack on Iraq.

Responding to a question on the possible US attack on Iraq, the Sheikh Jabar said it was possible but no one has yet informed them, as it does not concern Kuwait, adding that this matter concerns the US.