European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 21, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 b the stars and stripes sunday july 21, 1991 kurd Battle government soldiers Only 2 Days after Allied pullout Shablawa. Iraa api a in the marshes. It was a Willine to respond i Shablawa Iraq a in the first major fighting since the withdrawal of Allied forces from Northern Iraq kurd protesting Saddam Hussein a Rule have battled with government soldiers witnesses say. . Officials said Friday that although the fighting occurred outside the Allied designated Security zone they were studying a response including the possibility of military action against Iraq. The clashes that began wednesday in Suleiman Yeh and Erbil came just two Days after the Allied forces completed their pullout from the zone. The fighting coincided with rising tensions in the South. Diplomats said Iraq tried to deceive the United nations by Only temporarily withdrawing troops that have surrounded shiite Muslim refugees hiding in the marshes of Southern Iraq. The troops were then sent Back and ., French and British ambassadors summoned iraqi ambassador Abdul Amir Al Anbari on Friday to protest. The redeployment included establishing machine gun nests checkpoints in the marshes. Shiites in the South like the kurd in the North staged an unsuccessful rebellion against the Baghdad government immediately following the persian Gulf War. In the fighting in the North casualty figures varied but at least 30 kurd were killed in the iraqi controlled cities of Erbil and Suleiman Yeh kurdish officials said. They said iraqi secret police and soldiers had attacked first. . Observers reported about 500 casualties but did not specify dead and  official iraqi news Agency quoted information minister Hamid Yousef Hammadi As saying the situation had normalized. Hammadi blamed a iranian infiltrators a adding a some of them were captured and they had lots of Money to distribute to their   Navy cmdr. John Woodhouse spokesman for the Allied task Force at in Ciurlik a Turkey said the United states was weighing its reaction. He said that although the areas of fighting were outside the former Security zone the wartime coalition had told Iraq it was a willing to respond militarily to iraqi actions that disturb the  the fighting in Erbil capital of the kurdish Region in Northern Iraq began wednesday when secret police fired at 1,000 demonstrators said Saad Abdullah a senior member of the Kurdistan front a group of eight kurdish parties. The demonstrators were protesting the anniversary of the ruling baath party a 1968 coup and were demanding food and jobs. Kurdish guerrillas came to the demonstrators Aid and the secret police fired tear Gas and then bullets when they did no to disperse Abdullah said. Iraqi Security forces later shelled the City. At least 15 kurd were killed and 51 injured Abdullah said in Shablawa 37 Miles South of Erbil and the site of rebel Headquarters. Other witnesses said As Many As 50 in urls were killed. Travellers from Erbil to Baghdad said the City later appeared Calm and was under iraqi control. They said the local governors office was burned Down. In All 15 kurd were killed and More than 60 injured in Suleiman Yeh Abdul aps amps Lah said. It was not Clear who controlled Suleiman Yeh Friday but the City was reported Calm. Kurdish officials had no estimate of iraqi casualties. The United nations has 73 guards in Suleiman Yeh and 54 in Erbil under the april agreement signed with Baghdad to of protect the kurdish minority. They Are nightly armed but have no Powers to intervene in fighting. Since Early april the kurd have been negotiating with the iraqi government on kurdish autonomy. Despite the new unrest the negotiations continued As scheduled  joins Syria in Mideast peace try Liddah saudi Arabia apr Lebanon joined Syria on saturday in agreeing to participate in Mideast peace talks with Israel. Lebanon demanded that the expulsion of israeli troops from Southern Lebanon be placed on the Agenda. Secretary of state James a. Baker Iii lined up Lebanon a support for the peace conference in talks saturday in Cairo Egypt with lebanese foreign minister fares Bouez. I3aker then flew to saudi Arabia to see King fahd and Prince Saud the saudi foreign minister. President Bush sounded a hopeful note in Ankara Turkey about the peace proposals Baker is carrying to leaders in the Region. A i believe in my heart of hearts that when this is explained to Israel and the arabs Bush said a that All countries will Sec that its in their interest to come Forward and talk  the saudi Royal rulers earlier in the year ruled out direct participation in negotiations to resolve the 43-year-old Arab israeli dispute. But the saudis and leaders from five other persian Gulf countries said they would be willing to attend talks with Israel on such subjects As scarce water re sources the environment and proliferation of weapons. Lebanon is the third Arab country to inform Baker it was accepting Bush a formula for a peace conference. It Calls for Israel to give up land to the arabs in Exchange for acceptance. Bouez said Lebanon also reserves its right to demand immediate application of another . Security Council Resolution adopted in 1978, calling on Israel to withdraw its troops from Southern Lebanon. Israeli troops along with the South Lebanon army an israeli financed militia have used the enclave to intercept guerrillas before they reach israeli territory. The conference would be sponsored jointly by the United states and the soviet Union. A non voting United nations observer would participate in the discussions. Prime minister Yitzhak Shamir has tried to keep the United nations out of the talks. He has not seen a text of syrian president Hafez Assad a acceptance of  Terms. Assad is the main Power broker in the Region. The lebanese government was installed with the help of 40,000 syrian troops and Jordan siting Hussein has made the nature of his country a attendance at a peace conference conditional on syrians decision. Egypt the Only Arab country that has a peace treaty with Israel endorsed the  Formula on Friday. Baker asked what message he would take to Jerusalem said a i would Hope that i would be Able to convince the israelis that there Are Arab states that Are ready for direct negotiations with  saudi Arabia with its Oil wealth and Muslim holy places commands respect in the Arab world. Its explicit approval of Bush a formula for a peace conference and even a hint that it would Stop trying to strangle israelis Economy could be Pivotal. King Hussein whom Baker was to visit on sunday has not committed himself on peace talks with Israel. And bakery a attempts to shatter the Boycott earlier in the year were rejected a not Only by the arabs but by Israel because Baker proposed a freeze on jewish settlements. Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak endorsed the Trade off Friday after talking to Baker in Alexandria. Mubarak has played a key role in persuading Syria to adopt Bush a formula for negotiations. Its Bedrock is that Israel should relinquish territory in Exchange for Arab . Lawmakers throw punches on House floor a scuffle Breaks out on the Pennsylvania House floor on Friday night. Harrisburg a. A the House voted Down a $2.8 billion tax package Friday night in a tense floor session that ended when a democratic lawmaker punched a Republican colleague. The fight occurred shortly after 85 democrats but no republicans voted for the tax plan. After the 116-85 vote was recorded several democrats chased a Republican party photographer who took pictures of the voting Board. Such pictures Are illegal under House rules. One of the democrats state rep. Herman Mihalich was tripped or fell against a Bookcase. He then turned and threw two punches one of which hit state rep. Dennis leh. Another Democrat William Rieger of Philadelphia tried to join the fight but was stopped by House staffers. Mihalich said he was trying to get his balance and did not throw punches. He told another reporter a somebody pushed me from  when the re Porter asked Why he punched Back i Alich said a Law that Wasny to a  House Republican Leader Matthew Ryan said he had the film democrats. House speaker Robert of Donnell held a Roll of film up for the 1 members to see and said it would be destroyed. The fight overshadowed a Strong at tempt by House democrats to get close to the 102 votes needed to pass a tax plan and resolve the state budget impasse. The future of the tax plan is Uncertain. Budget negotiations Are scheduled to resume monday. The state lost most of its spending authority when the fiscal year began july 1 without a budget in place. The rejected budget plan featured several tax increases which republicans staunchly oppose despite decreases in state Revenue. Under the tax plan the personal income tax would increase from 2.1 percent to 3.1 percent for the rest of this year a nearly 48 percent increase. On Jan. 1,1992, the rate would Settle at 2.65 percent a 26 percent hike. That change alone would bring the state an extra $1.1 billion. Businesses would pay another $311 million in corporate net income taxes and another $344 million through an increase in the capital Stock and franchise tax and an exemption revision. Earlier in the Day the governors office urged Banks to be patient with state employees who done to receive paychecks Dur to provide Short term Loans to workers if necessary. About 300 state workers rallied at the Capitol at lunchtime urging lawmakers to Settle their differences and pass a budget