Arab League expresses deep concern over maneuvers

The Arab League yesterday expressed "deep concern" over the Turkish- Israeli military exercises that started Wednesday off the Syrian Mediterranean coast.

In a statement yesterday, the AL said the drills were "a method of pressuring Syria and Iraq and a part of a strategic plan to draw the political future of the Middle East."

"The league is confident that these maneuvers will not undermine the Arab stances supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq and backing Syria's resistance," the statement said.

The statement echoed Arab countries' hopes "that Turkey would reconsider the military cooperation ties with Israel that completely contradict the charter of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the traditional ties between Turkey and the Arab countries," Al- Ahram daily.