United Nations: Arab Ambassadors at the United Nations have demanded an urgent
meeting of the Security Council to call for an "immediate end to aggression" against
Iraq launched by the United States and Britain.
The demand came shortly after the Arab Foreign Ministers' meeting in Cairo, which
condemned the "aggression" and favoured a meeting of the Security Council to discuss
the issue and take action.
Iraq's Ambassador to UN Mohammad Aldouri, who holds the rotating presidency of the
22-member group, submitted the letter to the Council demanding a meeting.
But, it is the 15-member Security Council that will decide whether to hold the
meeting or not.
However, any resolution that the Arab group might bring forward seeking an end
to "aggression" has no chance of being adopted as both the United States and
Britain, the main partners of the coalition forces, have the veto power.
Besides, it would need at least nine votes to be adopted. Diplomats said it was
premature to do head count at this juncture. But it would definitely give a chance
to members opposed to the war to once again criticise the US-British action, which
they said had no legal basis.
Arab diplomats wished that the meeting would hold as soon as possible and said it
was vital that the Security Council would hold the discussions immediately at a time
when "aggression" was in progress.
At the Arab group's meeting, only Kuwait, which is under repeated missile attacks
from Iraq since the war started, opposed the proposal and supported American action.
Syria is the only Arab country, which has membership in the Security Council.
Its Ambassador Mikhail Wehbe said the Arabs would press for adoption of a resolution
calling for an end to "aggression" and withdrawal of all foreign troops from the
Iraqi territory.
The demand was submitted late on March 24 and it was likely to be formally
circulated on March 25 till the reaction of various members would be known.
Diplomats say they do not rule out a meeting, but adoption of any resolution
virtually impossible.
The United States and Britain were unable to get the nine votes for the second
resolution in the Council, which would have authorised military action.
Diplomats say it is unlikely that all those who opposed the American resolution
would support the Arab one.
PTI
