Consultations underway in Security Council on Iraq, Palestine

"Consultations are underway in the United Nations Security Council on the efforts exerted by the US as regards the Palestinian and Iraqi issues," said Egyptian Delegate to the UN, Ahmed Abul-Gheit.

He said that the Arab group is waiting for the results of mission of the US Middle East peace envoy William Burns in the region and will submit a request for an open official session for the Security Council to look into the developments of the situation.

In an exclusive interview given to the Cairo-based Sawt Al-Arab radio, Abul Gheit said consultations are also underway on the US-British "smart sanctions plan on Iraq, but he ruled out the possibility of issuing a related decision before several weeks to come.

The current trend in the UN, he said, reflects the rejection of coming to decisions resulting in more suffering for the Iraqi people.