On Arab states' reaction to the aggression against Iraq

Iraq's representative at the UN, Nizar Hamdoun, said that he did not hear any voice from the Arab group denouncing the US-British aggression against Iraq. But he indicated that a statements was released by the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the countries of the Non-Aligned Movement voicing solidarity with Iraq.

In an interview with the BBC on Friday, Hamdoun said there is no excuse that would justify the Arab group's attitude, especially in this situation when children, women and the elderly are being killed in Iraq.

He added that Iraq had called for convening an Arab summit in an attempt to push the Arab position forward to the better but the pressuring elements and the partition factors are still exist.

He indicated that the "Arab street stand" is always beside Iraq and towards lifting the sanctions imposed on Iraq, noting that these stances are not expressed precisely by governmental stances.

Meanwhile, a source at the Iraqi Ministry of Culture and Information said on Friday that Saudi armored units on Thursday night advanced towards the borders with Iraq before they headed back home. The source stated that Saudi armored vehicles headed towards the Iraqi borders on a reconnaissance mission and retreated back to their positions. This is, however, the first time Iraq has indicated moves for troops at the border with Saudi Arabia in the south.

Elsewhere, the Arab League council decided to postpone its urgent meeting to discuss the strike against Iraq, which was to be held tomorrow, until an unspecified date.

Moreover, the AL's assistant secretary-general for Arab affairs, ambassador Ahmed Bin Heli, said that the Iraqi charge d'affairs in Cairo called him yesterday and demanded the postponement the meeting at the current time.