Ankara criticizes Washingon's ignorance of the composition of the region, Vatican and Spain want Arab, Islamic forces
Regional-USA, Politics, 4/9/2004

The Vatican and Spain yesterday called on the Arab and Islamic states to deploy their forces in Iraq ( unde the UN) with the aim to halt the fighting currently taking place, while Turkey has expressed its "great concern" over the situation and criticized the US " ignorance " of the politial complexities of the region.

At a time when both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movements in Palestine in a joint statement held the occupation forces responsible for the consequences of the "American massacre " in Iraq, the "Muslim Brothers " in Iraq commended the "Iraqi resistance " and condemned the " crimes committed by the occupation forces," while the secretary general of the Arab League considered what is taking place in Iraq as " a very grave matter and unacceptable."

The Turkish Foreign minister Abdullah Gul said " we follow with great concern the situation ( in Iraq). It is a very grave escalation of the situation." Gul criticized Washington without naming it. He said " when one gets into the complete structure of the region, events might flare up and sudden escalation takes place. We do hope the advice we gave at the beginning of the " war" will be "taken into consideration."

The Forthcoming Spanish foreign minister Miguel Angle Moratinos said that it is necessary to change the " military map in Iraq through including " units from Arab and Islamic states that would be close to the Iraqi people and speak their language," adding "reality should be faced" what is taking place in Iraq is a catastrophe." He added "it is the only way to make the Iraqi people understand that the foreign forces are existed here to ensure their safety." For his part, the " minister of peace " in the Vatican Cardinal Renato Martino said that the Pope opposed the invasion of Iraq " and will do the same again" if it is necessary. He added " that he ( the Pope) expresses today, as before, the need for the UN." He continued " the Pope has repeated that several days ago while he was talking to the new ambassador of Lebanon when he had submitted his credentials." He said that " all countries of the region from Russia to China, especially the Arab states should go there to establish peace." He stressed that the " Islamic states should play a dceisive role by taking place in a UN force."

Previous Stories:
  New York Times: Washington audits the accounts of Arab diplomats   (4/3/2004)
  Bush to receive in April, Mubarak, Sharon and King Abdullah   (3/29/2004)
  Moussa criticizes The Greater Middle East initiative   (3/20/2004)

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