Kuwaitis press for Iraqi compensation

Kuwaitis claiming compensation: Anti-Iraqi feelings are still strong

Thousands of Kuwaitis have flocked to the emirate's law courts to file new compensation claims against Iraq for its 1990 invasion and seven-month occupation.

The rush was prompted by warnings from lawyers that any new claims must be filed by a deadline of 2 August - exactly 10 years after the Iraqi invasion.

However, a senior Kuwaiti Justice Ministry official appealed for calm on national radio, saying people still had another five years in which to file for civil compensation.

Throughout Monday and Tuesday, up to 20,000 Kuwaitis and expatriates converged on Kuwait's Palace of Justice law courts.

Kuwait claimed damages for massive oil fires

Anyone who can prove that they were subjected to personal injury, abuse or hardship is entitled to claim through Kuwait's courts.

During the Iraqi occupation, hundreds of Kuwaitis and other nationals were killed, tortured or suffered other abuses.

The fresh claims are separate from the compensation awarded to hundreds of thousands of Kuwaitis and other nationals by the UN Compensation Commission (UNCC).

Kuwait sought compensation worth more than $150bn from the UNCC, a body set up after the 1991 Gulf War.

So far the UNCC has awarded $15.5bn in compensation. The funds come out of Iraq's revenue from oil sales allowed under the oil-for-food programme.

No thaw with Iraq

The Kuwaiti Government has ruled out any possibility of resuming relations with Iraq under President Saddam Hussein.

Kuwait's Defence Minister, Sheikh Salem al-Sabah, told the BBC that relations with Iraq were "forbidden".

He said he would only go to Baghdad to help secure the release of Kuwaiti prisoners-of-war.

Claims for Iraqi compensation

Processed by UN Compensation Commission

Iraq pays through 30% deduction from its oil-for-food revenue

Kuwait sought more than $150bn

UNCC has dealt with 2.6 million claims, awarded $15.5bn

Israeli hotels, travel firms and farmers won compensation

1.2 million claims submitted for Egyptians working in Iraq who lost income

Kuwait has urged the international community to step up the pressure on Baghdad to release some 600 Kuwaiti prisoners. Iraq denies holding any Kuwaiti prisoners.

Kuwaitis say they can never forgive Iraq for the destruction it wreaked on their country during its seven-month occupation.

Kuwait's Prosecutor General Sultan Boujarwah has said as many as 250,000 cases could be filed against Iraqi officials and soldiers.

Arab divisions

The BBC's Frank Gardner in Kuwait says few people in the region now see Iraq as a threat, preferring to believe that Iraq has been effectively disarmed by years of UN weapons inspections.

Kuwait's Gulf neighbours Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates all have embassies in Baghdad.

Kuwait has beefed up its armed forces since 1991

Kuwait has mostly forgiven countries seen at the time as siding with Iraq during the invasion.

Jordan, Sudan, Yemen and the Palestine Liberation Organisation were all considered to be sympathetic to Iraq's attack on Kuwait. That stance cost them hundreds of millions of dollars in lost job revenues and Kuwaiti aid after 1990.

The Palestinians lost the most. They had settled in Kuwait in their hundreds of thousands and ran the emirate's civil service.

When the US-led coalition drove Iraq out of Kuwait in 1991, Kuwaitis took their revenge on Palestinian expatriates, and all but a few were expelled.