On eve of Cohen tour, Saudi Arabia says opposes intervention in Iraqi affairs

With the beginning of a tour by US Defense Secretary William Cohen to the region, Saudi Arabia has expressed its strong opposition to any intervention in the internal affairs of Iraq.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz on Wednesday expressed his country's opposition to schemes aiming to destabilize Iraq, in reference to US support for the Iraqi opposition.

The Saudi minister said: "We confront any intervention in the internal affairs of Iraq."

The statements made by the Saudi minister came on the eve of the visit Cohen will hold to several countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia.

Cohen will visit during his tour which he will start today until March 12 Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

Cohen's visit comes amid continued tension in the region as a result of the continued US - British strikes on Iraq.

Gulf sources in Cairo said Cohen will discuss with high-ranking officials in the Middle East the developments of the peace process, the status in the Gulf region and the US policy toward Iraq in the light of the continued confrontations in the no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq.

The sources added that there are pressures on the Gulf by the U.S. to declare support for the no-fly zones imposed by the US and Britain.

The sources added that Cohen will try to show that the situation is unstable in the Gulf and that the U.S. will do its best to support the Gulf states against Iraq. Cohen will also meet with the US forces in Kuwait.