Al-Ateyah rules out sending Gulf forces to Iraq

The secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ruled out sending forces to Iraq by the GCC.

Al-Ateyah told journalists in Kuwait that there is no intention in the Gulf states to deploy forces on the Iraqi lands but he explained that the countries of the GCC welcomes the UN announcement its determination to deploy multi national forces there.

The GCC includes six states which are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain. These countries are traditionally considered alley for the US as most of them host American military based on their lands.

The UN secretary general Kofi Annan announced last Sunday that a multi national forces will take part in peace keeping in Iraq after it gets the consent of the UN Security Council, and this will be after authority transfer to the Iraqis on June 30.

The UN Security Council resolution no. 1511,which was issued in 2003 green lighted the formation of a multi national forces in Iraq that is scheduled to stay in the country until the end of the political operation which guarantees a new draft constitution and preparations for democratic elections expected in 2005.