Iraq lauds Mrs. Mubarak's advocacy of Arab women's causes

An Iraqi delegate Thursday night praised Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak's efforts in championing causes of Arab women in statements upon arriving in Cairo to lead the Iraqi delegation to an extraordinary Arab women's summit. Hoda Saleh, a member of the Iraqi Baath Party added that Mrs. Mubarak's efforts were highly regarded across the Arab world.

She added that she would post the summit on the worsening conditions of Iraqi women under an all-out UN embargo. The summit opens in Cairo on Sunday.

On the other hand, Mauritania Thursday said it would take part in the Arab Women's extraordinary summit to open on Sunday by Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, according to an official source.

The Mauritanian delegation, led by Minister of Women's Affairs Mintata Mint Hedeid, will leave for Cairo on Friday to attend the two-day conference.

The conference will discuss a draft charter of the Arab women's organization which will be officially launched by Mrs. Mubarak.

The conference is organized by Egypt's National Council for Women (NCW), the Arab League and the Lebanese Hariri Foundation.

Twenty countries have approved the draft.

The conference will also discuss a report conducted by Egypt's (NCW) on the outcome of the forums that were held in 2000 on women.