Saddam a headache for upcoming Arab Summit

AMMAN — The issue of Iraq continues to pose a major problem for the Arab League summit.

Arab leaders are divided over Iraq's demands that the summit call for an end to international sanctions. Some leaders are also concerned over the prospect that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will attend the meeting in Amman on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The opposition to lifting United Nations sanctions on Iraq comes largely from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Kuwait is demanding an Iraqi apology for the invasion of the sheikdom in 1990. Saudi Arabia has also been angered by an Iraqi demand that the Arab League approve Baghdad's request to send nearly $900 million to the Palestinians.

The Saudis have decided to lower their level of participation at the Amman meeting and will send Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz.

In previous summits, Riyad was represented by Crown Prince Abdullah.

Some Arab League foreign ministers have proposed to establish a panel that would draft a resolution to end the dispute between Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. It is not clear whether the panel would be discussed by Arab leaders.

To ease Arab opposition, Iraq has suggested that instead of sanctions the United States block weapons sales to Baghdad. Arab diplomatic sources said the Iraqi proposal might be in line with the Bush administration's new policy of "smart sanctions" on Baghdad.

The debate over Iraq comes amid reports of renewed fighting in northern Iraq. Arab diplomatic sources said Iraq has renewed missile attacks toward opposition targets near the Kurdish city of Irbil.

Arab League foreign ministers over the weekend approved one of their own as the body's next secretary-general. The choice was that of Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Mussa.

On Sunday, the London-based Al Hayat daily said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon plans to send an envoy to Jordan's King Abdullah over the next two days. The newspaper said Sharon's message to Amman will be that Israel does not see Jordan as an alternative Palestinian homeland and that the Hashemite kingdom remains a vital partner in the Arab-Israeli peace efforts.