Cairo denies Albright's support of Arab support for strike on Iraq

Diplomatic sources in Cairo negated assertions that US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had gained the approval of any Arab country to strike Iraq if efforts to come to a diplomatic solution to the crisis fail.

The diplomatic sources confirmed that Albright faced an obvious Arab position that gives diplomatic efforts a full opportunity and priority over any other solutions.

Cairo informed Albright that the Egyptian position reflects the Arab countries' position, as President Hosni Mubarak is the head of the Arab Summit. Mubarak made intensive consultations with most of the Arab leaders several hours before Albright visited Cairo.

Cairo also warned the United States against Israeli intervention in the Iraqi crisis with the United Nations, stating that this will make the crisis more complex and increase the resentment of Arab public opinion against the United States and its policy.