Al-Sharq al-Awsat: Arab leaders can stop Iraqi war with free will

Syria's Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam has stressed that Syria under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad is firmly standing against the American war on Iraq, out of her care with regard to the Arab future in face of the imminent challenges.

In an interview with the London- based al-Sharq al-Awsat Newspaper and published yesterday, Khaddam said that the two, Palestinian and Iraqi issues reflect the real Arab weak and disabled position stressing that the Arab official stance shows that Arabs are not really aware of the dangers of the war on the region.

Khaddam pointed out to the statements of American officials regarding their desire to rebuild the region according to the United States interests, asserting that Israel carries out brutal massacres everyday against the Palestinians and that Israel will be the biggest beneficiary of the war on Iraq because it is the strategic ally for Washington.

He added that the Arab people are in a state of surge and anger against war so if United States cares about its Arab friends it should take in its consideration the Arab people desire.

Khaddam also affirmed that Arabs are actually able to prevent the war but when they have free will.