An Iraqi diplomatic move to explain its stance

Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Said al-Sahaf called for effective action to stop the US and British raids on Iraqi territories, while he started a diplomatic initiative toward many countries, among which are France, Russia and China.

The message al-Sahaf sent to Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid said the AL is required to throw all its corroborative and financial weight at the concerned and unconcerned countries to stop the aggression to achieve the meaning and goals of the Arab League and protect the Arabs' rights and national security.

Iraqi sources said, "The government decided on launching a diplomatic campaign that comprises some countries to explain Iraq's stance toward the current discussions regarding it in the Security Council, and the Iraqi convoys will present a detailed explanation of Iraq's stance towards its projects which are discussed in the United Nations."

Iraq has briefed the Arab League on the attacks to which the south and north of Iraq are exposed on a daily basis by US and British planes, in addition to US interference in Iraqi affairs through its support for the Iraqi opposition.

The Iraqi deputy at the Arab League, Sultan El-Shawi, said following his meeting with Abdul Meguid, "We have informed our total refusal to the meeting of US officials with Iraqi agents used by the USA as tools to achieve conciliation in the region."

El-Shawi quoted Abdul Meguid as saying that these meetings are sort of obvious intervention in Iraqi internal affairs, where the subject received a response by Abdul Meguid, saying that he is against these practices and he is exerting his utmost in this field.