Iraqi dailies call upon the Arab states to follow France's steps in supporting it

Iraqi dailies issued in Baghdad on Tuesday called upon the Arab states to receive US Defense Secretary William Cohen and to adopt a one united position which can challenge the US position, which they called a flagrant violation of the UN charter, international law, the Arab League Charter and the common Arab defense treaty.

In its commentary the Iraqi daily al-Qaadeseyah said, "If those (in reference to the Arabs) have forgotten their national belonging as Arabs they have to take as an example stances adopted by certain foreign countries, including Russia, China and France."

The paper reiterated its call for all Arab leaders to follow France's steps, whose foreign minister criticized the US and British air strikes against Iraq.

For its part, the Iraqi daily al-Joumhoreyah said the tour of US Defense Secretary William Cohen has nothing new of aggressive plans and schemes against Iraq. "Cohen's visit has the same tune ever played since nine years and was met by great failure, due to the steadfastness of the Iraqi people," it said.