Gulf states nervous about Egypt's deployment plans

CAIRO — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is encountering skepticism over his plans to contribute to Gulf Arab security.

Arab diplomatic sources said several Gulf countries have relayed uneasiness to the United States over Egyptian plans to send a military force to the region. The sources said the Gulf states want to know whether Washington supports Mubarak's efforts.

"The Saudis are most concerned," a diplomatic source said. "They know that once the Egyptians come, the Saudis will have to pay forever."

Mubarak has been touring the Gulf over the last week and sounding out Arab leaders over the Egyptian plan. So far, Mubarak has met the leaders of Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

On Tuesday, Mubarak began two days of talks with Kuwaiti leaders, including emir Jaber Ahmed Sabah. It was Mubarak's first visit to the emirate in nearly two years.

Mubarak has also sought to mediate between Kuwait and Iraq. Iraq has threatened Kuwait, saying the emirate continues to support United Nations sanctions against the regime of President Saddam Hussein.

But Kuwait has rejected reconciliation until Iraq fulfills UN resolutions, including an accounting for hundreds of Kuwaitis missing since the 1990 Iraqi occupation of the emirate. They also cited the renewed assertion by the Saddam's son, Uday, that Kuwait is part of Iraq.

"Regarding reconciliation between Kuwait and Iraq, Kuwait's position is very clear," Kuwaiti parliamentary speaker Jassem Khorafi said. "There must be frankness, and an Iraqi commitment to implement all UN Security Council resolutions, particularly the release of Kuwaiti prisoners of war, and refraining from its irresponsible threats and statements which only destablize the region."