Arab foreign ministers said they were sending a "unanimous" appeal to avert a war against Iraq. "We adopted unanimously a resolution concerning Iraq. We expressed our support to Iraq and we stood firmly against any attack on Iraq," Libyan Minister for African Unity Ali Triki told reporters as closed-door talks were ending.
An Arab delegate told AFP the final resolution would also call for "pursuing dialogue between Iraq and the UN secretary general in order to resolve questions linked to the return of (weapons) inspectors."
Triki and his Egyptian, Sudanese and other colleagues said the meeting was unanimous in rejecting a war against Iraq.
Arab foreign ministers were wrapping up two days of talks dominated by Iraq but also focusing on how to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and Sudan's 19-year civil war.
Some Arab delegates said Wednesday Iraq could only hope to avoid an attack by readmitting UN weapons inspectors.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, meanwhile, said late Wednesday he was happy with the talks in Cairo. "The Arab position regarding American threats against Iraq is a united and positive position."
Sabri charged Wednesday that Bush will present "lies" in seeking the approval of the US Congress and United Nations for a strike against his country. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
