Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Mon 12 Dec 2002Kuwaiti preparations in case of war are a 'joke'KUWAIT: Whilst US forces in Kuwait have been gearing up for military action against Iraq, the Kuwaiti government has been telling its citizens what to do in the event of a retaliatory strike by Iraq using chemical or biological weapons. From Jack Fairweather, in KuwaitIn a document distributed to all government offices in Kuwait, which has been seen by The Irish Times, the following advice is given: "1. Keep quiet. 2. Turn off the air conditioning. 3. Go to a safe place. 4. Put a piece of damp material over your nose and mouth and change it every 15 minutes, being sure not to breathe whilst completing the change. 5. Wear heavy clothes, such as a rain coat, to protect the skin from contact with any chemicals. 6. Await further instruction."