Arab league continues mission in Iraq

The mission of the Arab League continued its mission in Iraq following the attack it was exposed to on Monday and resulted in killing two persons and wounding other seven in the lines of the Iraqi guards.

The AL assistant secretary general and the chief of the mission, the Algerian Ahmad Bin Hali, said that the delegation met on Tuesday, in particular with the special representative for the UN in Iraq, Ashraf Qadi, and the leader of the higher council for the Islamic revolution in Iraq, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, and representatives for the civil society.

Bin Hali stressed that his mission aims at preparing for the visit of the AL secretary general Amr Moussa and organizing an "inter Iraqi national dialogue " at the auspices of the Arab League.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said Tuesday that the shots taken at the Arab League team by gunmen in Baghdad Monday would not affect the League's stand or efforts to serve Iraq, nor would it make him have second thoughts about the trip he plans to make to Iraq shortly after the referendum on the Iraqi constitution.

Moussa told reporters that although he wished the incident had never occurred, such attacks were not unusual in Baghdad.

Asserting that the team's visit would proceed as planned, he said that Ambassador Ahmad Bin Hali, Assistant Arab League Secretary General and head of the team, would address a news conference on the attack.

Asked about the Arab League's position regarding armed operations in Iraq, Moussa replied: "Our stand towards terrorism is well known. We strongly condemn it."

Moussa said the Iraqi government did not turn down the idea of convening a reconciliation conference, but certain parties make divers statements. "But this will not affect the political process," he said.

Meanwhile, a senior Arab League source stated that the Arab League team in Iraq is well and will continue their mission as scheduled.