United Nations: Arab nations have formally asked the 191-member UN General Assembly
to convene a special meeting to adopt a resolution calling for ceasefire in Iraq and
respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Arabs sent in their request on April 8 after a closed-door meeting of 116-member
Non Aligned Movement (NAM) failed to develop a consensus on seeking the session.
Arab diplomats had been working for days to get support of the movement.
But diplomats say it could be several days before the session is held, as the US and
Britain are working against it, asserting that it was unnecessary and would be
divisive.
The Assembly's 28-member general committee is scheduled to consider the request on
April 11 and there could also be procedural wrangle in the Assembly itself,
diplomats say.
The Arabs said about 50 countries who are supporting the United States might try to
block a debate in the Assembly, but they had made the request in view of fierce
fighting in which thousands might have been killed.
Arab Group's chairman Ambassador Abdullah Alsaidi of Yemen, who sent in the request,
said they are moving the Assembly as there is no chance of such a resolution being
adopted by the 15-member Council.
Any resolution adopted by the Assembly is not binding but could prove embarrassing
for the United States and Britain who are seen by a majority of members as waging a
war that is not authorised by the Security Council.
PTI
