Saudi Arabia calls Iraq war "illegitimate occupation"
munaeem | 28 March, 2007 23:45
One of America's closest Arab allies has attacked the war in Iraq as an "illegitimate foreign occupation." Speaking at the start of a summit of the Arab League in Riyadh, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia hit out at the Bush administration. He accused it of putting Iraq at risk of a civil war and trying to unilaterally write the future of the Middle-East.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia warned that unless Arab governments settled their differences, foreign powers like the United States would continue to dictate the region's politics.
The king's speech underscored growing differences between Saudi Arabia and the Bush administration as the Saudis take on a greater leadership role in the Middle East.
King Abdullah has not publicly spoken so harshly about the American-led military intervention in Iraq before, and his remarks suggest that his alliance with Washington may be less harmonious than administration officials have been hoping.
Saudi Arabia is America's richest and most powerful ally in the Arab world.
The country quietly aided the invasion of Iraq in 2003, allowing US cruise missiles to cross its air space and strike targets inside its neighbour.
But the kingdom is now playing a more assertive and independent role in Middle Eastern diplomacy. By criticising America, King Abdullah, 83, is trying to maximise his credibility in the Arab world.
Arab summit considers military plan
munaeem | 28 March, 2007 01:29
SALAH NASRAWI reports:
"Arab countries should forge closer military and security ties, including nuclear cooperation, according to a document to be discussed at this week‘s Arab summit here.
The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal said on Monday that "Arab national security" will top the agenda of the summit, which begins Wednesday in Riyadh.
Al-Faisal said Arabs want to have their own "mechanism" to resolve regional conflicts such as Iraq and Darfur. "Experience has shown that Arabs can solve their problems without foreign intervention," he added.
It also urges "a comprehensive review of the nuclear issues in the region" — presumably a reference to Iran and Israel — and says member countries should develop their own nuclear strategies. In the past year, several Arab states have expressed interest in developing peaceful exploitation of nuclear power.
According to a document drawn up by Egypt, a "new and effective pact for Arab national security" is one of the proposals that will be raised during the start of the summit on Wednesday. However, it was not immediately clear whether the proposal would call for all 22 members to enter a formal military pact.
At the Arab summit in Khartoum last year, national leaders decided to set up an Arab peace and security council. But so far, only four countries have endorsed the agreement, which requires seven members to become active.
