Arab ministerial delegation to meet Hussein on Saturday

The Egyptian Middle East News Agency said yesterday that the Arab ministerial delegation will head for Baghdad on Friday to meet with the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the next day, in an Arab attempt to avoid war against Iraq through consultation with the Iraqi leadership.

The agency quoted Arab diplomats as saying that the delegation which composes the foreign ministers of Egypt, Syria, lebanon, Tunisia and Bahrain as well as the secretary general of the Arab League will hold consultations tomorrow Thursday with the King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who presides over the current presidency of the Arab summit, before the delegation will head later for Baghdad.

The Arab ministers are expected to meet on Friday with senior Iraqi officials including the foreign minister Naji Sabri and will be meeting with Saddam Hussein on Saturday. The agency quoted Arab diplomats as denying reports that the ministers might try to convince the Iraqi President to give up the authority.