Arab League approves Iraqi decision to cooperate with UNSCOM

Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid announced today that the AL approves of Iraq's decision to resume cooperation with the United Nations' international weapons inspection committee, UNSCOM, and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Abdul Meguid added that this decision is an important step toward diffusing the tensions between the two parties, and he pointed to the AL's hope that the UN will comprehensively review the sanctions in order to end the suffering of the Iraqi people.

Meanwhile, Lebanon hailed Iraq's decision as Lebanese Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz confirmed his country's opposition to any military action against Iraq.

Meanwhile, The general trusteeship of the Arab National Conference under the chairmanship of former Algerian Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Mohri issued a statement yesterday in which the organization expressed its appreciation for the position of the Arab states which opposed a military strike against Iraq, headed by Egypt.

The statement urged the Arab and Islamic countries close to Iraq to achieve an integral initiative that contributes to lifting the sanctions from Iraq. The Arab National Conference is a non-governmental organization concerned with unity among Arab nations.