Moussa hopes to contain Iraqi situation; regional reaction

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa expressed his hope that the current situation between Baghdad and Washington would be contained to protect the best interests of the Iraqi people and to seek a diplomatic method to resolve any currently pending issues.

Following his return to Cairo after attending the fourth summit of the Organizatoin of African Unity, Moussa said that UNSCOM chief Richard Butler did not manage the subject well enough to contain the situation instead of worsening it, saying that the UN Security Council was not decisive in this regard, so there are many matters that should still be tackled.

Moussa's statements came as regional and Arab responses to the attacks continued.

Meanwhile, in two telephone calls, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi discussed with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and Organization of the Islamic Conference Secretary General Azeddine Laraki the latest conditions resulting from the US-British attacks against Iraq and the appropriate means to find a settlement for this crisis.

Kharazi expressed concern over conditions in Iraq as a result of these attacks. He stressed the desire of Iranian President Muhammad Khatami, who is also the OIC chairman, to reactivate the role played by the OIC to find out a peaceful solution for the crisis.

Over one million Syrian people flocked in the early morning into the main streets of Damascus and gathered in front of the US embassy in solidarity with the people of Iraq, condemning the US-British against Iraq.

Two of the demonstrators climbed the walls of the US embassy and tore the flag. The gathered demonstrators chanted slogans condemning the aggression. Others were carrying banners with slogans such as, "Children of Iraq are stronger that the American missiles," "Stop killing the Iraqi people," "This is the law of the jungle."

The demonstrators broke into the residence of the US ambassador in Damascus, and police had to interevene to control the situation.

The Algeria foreign ministry yesterday called on the American ambassador Cameron Hume and Britain's ambassador, where the ministry's secretary general, Ammar Ben Gomha, expressed to them Algeria's deep anxiety toward the US - British military actions against Iraq.

The Algerian Foreign Ministry released a statement stating that Algeria is anxiously pursuing the development of the situation in Iraq within the framework of the consecutive attacks, denouncing the use of force individually as in this case. Moreover, the statement pointed out that the attacks will increase the tensions and stability of the region and called for an immediate halt to military action.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh called yesterday for convening an urgent Arab summit to discuss the current developments and situations within the framework of British - US actions against Iraq and the dangers of strains and instability in the region that could result from it.

Thousands of Libyan citizens marched in a demonstration protesting and denouncing the US - British military action against Iraq, as the demonstrators repeated slogans calling for gathering troops and Arab forces to confront the flagrant attack.

Moreover, the Libyan demonstrators said that this inversion is just an attempt to militarize the Arab states and a way to divest the Arab nation of its power to be incapable of facing its main foe, Israel.

A statement released by demonstrators said the US and Britain have passed all limits of international law and traditions aiming to destroy everyone, and it must be resisted.

The Arab Parliamentary Union confirmed that the US - British invasion against Iraq forms a severe strike at security and peace in the region and aggravates the situation and suffering of the Iraqi people.

A statement released by the union announced yesterday its strong denouncement and condemnation of the invasion, which is considered a bitter violation of the UN charter and great carelessness in its role as well as the UN Security Council's role.

Moreover, in its statement the APU called on the Arab people, the permanent members in the Security Council and governments to confront, denounce and condemn this invasion.