UNIVERSITY BRANCH 831 East 13th • Eugene, OR 97401 (503)683-5577 • 1-800-888-3799 WE’RE YOUR TICKET OUT OF HERE! SPECIALISTS IN STUDENT TRAVEL • Student Discounts • Lowest Domestic Fares • Lowest International Fares • Amtrak Tickets • Instant Eurail Passes INTERNATIONAL Iraq backs off on threat NEW YORK (AP) - Western governments reacted with out rage Thursday to Iraq’s threat to execute diplomats who shel ter foreigners, but Baghdad sought to portray it as a misun derstanding. saying the warn ing was aimed at its own citi zens. Eight weeks to the day after Iraq overran Kuwait, its exiled emir addressed the United Na tions General Assembly, decry ing the "rape, destruction and terror" inflicted by Saddam Hussein's armies and appealing for a withdrawal of Iraqi troops. But Iraq tightened its grip on the conquered emirate, order ing Kuwaiti nationals to apply for Iraqi citizenship. Oil prices advanced again Thursday, briefly breaking the $40-a-bairel mark, a day after President Bush ordered the sale of some oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to fight soar ing prices. International finance offi cials. meanwhile, expressed new concerns about long-term financial consequences of the Persian Gulf crisis. The head of the W'orld Bank said he might be forced to call on wealthy na tions to boost their support for the international lending insti tution by early next year. Britain, in a surprise move, announced the restoration of diplomatic ties with Iran, which were severed after the Ayatollah Khomeini's death de cree against author Salman Rushdie for his book "The Sa lanic Verses.” Iraq was the target of a blis tering new round of interna tional criticism on Thursday, after a drastic threat against diplomats who shelter foreign ers In a note delivered to some Western embassies on Wednes day. the Baghdad government said giving sanctuary to a for eigner was punishable by death. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry refused to elaborate on the mes sage. but Iraqi officials speak ing on condition of anonymity said it was referring to Iraqis harboring Westerners, not to diplomats giving refuge to their own nationals. Even as Baghdad backpedaled. Western govern ments reacted angrily. "Iraq’s threat makes it im possible to take seriously any pretensions on its part to be a civilized state.” Britain's For eign Office said. In Paris, a French Foreign Ministry spokesman in Paris called the threat "utterly intolerable.” Secretary of State James A Baker III, who first disclosed the threat on Wednesday, called it "repugnant.” Thousands of Westerners trapped by the invasion have been prevented from leaving. Some are being held by Iraq at key installations to serve as hu man shields against potential attack. Oregon West - FITNESS - • AEROBICS, AEROBICS, AEROBICS • stairmaster, < Aerobicyde, Lifecycle * Tanning > personalized Training > Adjacent to Jogging / Bicycle Trails OREGON WEST —FITNESS— Best Hours-Best Prices VISA’ 6am-llpm 7 Days a week 1475 Franklin Blvd. Across from campus 485-1624 x Vi OFF INITIATION FEE Bring this coupon in and receive V2 off our low initiation fee. (Expires 10/15/90)