WORLD : Iraq Won’t Be Pressured by U.S.

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The government said today that it will not be intimidated by U.S. pressure in its oil dispute with neighboring Kuwait, and President Saddam Hussein summoned the U.S. ambassador for talks.

Although Iraq reportedly has massed troops along the Kuwaiti border, there were several signs today that Baghdad was prepared to resolve the dispute.

Diplomatic sources in Kuwait said Hussein has given assurances he will not use military force if Kuwait agrees to pay compensation for $2.4-billion worth of oil Iraq claims it has stolen since 1980.

Later in the day, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt said Iraq and Kuwait have agreed to hold direct talks on Saturday or Sunday in Jidda, Saudi Arabia, to try to solve their dispute peacefully.