TEHRAN A member of the Ad-Dawa al-Islamia Party told the IRIB Arabic Service that the cabinet of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has just undergone a reshuffled in line with new U.S. policies in the region.

Ali al-Adib gave two reasons for the exchange of portfolios between Foreign Minister Mohammed Said al-Sahaf and Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz.

The first reason given is that the former foreign minister's performance in office is said to have led to the failure of the Iraqi position in many political forums, including that of the Amman summit. The Amman summit ended in the strengthening of Kuwait's stance since the meeting failed to remove or at least ease sanctions on Iraq because of an intransigence on the part of the Iraqi delegation during talks. The second reason given has to do with latest international developments, particularly the coming to power of the Republicans in the U.S.

After the Republicans took the helm at the White House all flies between Baghdad Airport and most Arab and other international airports were seized, which is an indication of heightened U.S. pressure on Iraq. He also said that a recently concluded tour by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to some Arab countries in the region was intended, among other aims, to evaluate the Iraqi issue with the host countries.

The results of the visit was not released that time, he further said, but when Edward Walker, the U.S. assistant secretary for Near Eastern affairs, visited the region, the outcome of the visits became obvious, i.e., the adoption of a resolution to reinforcing sanctions on Iraq as early as next month.