Le Figaro: Mubarak: Arab leaders are helpless

In an interview with Le Figaro newspaper, to be published on Thursday, Mubarak said a joint stance should be reached before trying to influence those who decide on war.

"Diplomatic consultations are underway and it does not matter if it is an emergency or regular one," Mubarak said.

He urged Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to fully comply with UN resolutions and said if Saddam hands over weapons of mass destruction, there will be no reason for war. These statements from Mubarak come in light of UN inspectors reports that said that there is no proof so far that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.

"When the Arab summit convenes, the main interest will be means to spare the Iraqi people the scourges of war," the Egyptian President said.

Asked whether he believes the Arab League could prevent the US from waging war on Iraq, the Egyptian President said no one can stop America and the aim of the summit is to convey the Arabs' call for a peaceful solution.

Mubarak said that US President George W. Bush told him that he wanted to solve the issue in a peaceful way.