Bin Sultan speaks on U.S. peace biases and Iraq

The president of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan has expressed skepticism toward the latest US mediation effort, accusing the Americans of being "biased" in favor of Israel.

In an interview with the London-based Arabic daily Al Hayat published on August 13 Sheikh Zaid said "the Americans are biased to one side against the other and the mediator should give and take and try to reconcile the contrary opinions of the disputing parties."

The American special envoy to the Middle East, Dennis Ross, is expected to begin a round of shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East in the coming days. At the end of August, American Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is also expected to visit the region.

On the possibility of Iraq’s participation in Arab summits, Sheikh Zaid said, "this is a duty as the body cannot function normally while one of its parts is sick."

He called on Arab countries to work hard for the return of Iraq to Arab ranks and the lifting of sanctions on it as, "The Americans are not in a hurry in this regard."