U.S. seeks French support for Iraq policy as Arabs split over sanctions

WASHINGTON Ñ The Bush administration is trying to convince a key European friend of Iraq to maintain sanctions on the regime of President Saddam Hussein.

U.S. officials begin talks with French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine on the future of sanctions on Baghdad. France has urged for a lifting of economic sanctions from Iraq as Vedrine met with Vice President Richard Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell and U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

Powell was to outline to his French counterpart the Bush administration's policy of so-called smart sanctions against Baghdad, officials said. This would allow for the acceleration of humanitarian and civilian aid to Iraq. The two men met earlier at the NATO summit in Brussels.

U.S. government sources said a French endorsement of Bush's new policy toward Iraq would help recruit Arab support for Washington. The Arabs, however, are divided over the future of sanctions against Baghdad.

The dispute is being waged at the Arab League foreign ministers' meeting in Amman. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia oppose a resolution at the Arab League summit, which begins on Tuesday, that would unconditionally lift United Nations sanctions from Iraq.

Kuwait wants any resolution regarding Iraq to contain a demand for Baghdad to observe all UN resolutions and apologize to the sheikdom for the 1990 invasion by Saddam. Jordan is calling for the end of sanctions on Iraq.

The dispute has already led to a decision by several Gulf states to downgrade their participation at the Arab League summit. The Saudis plan to send Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz. Kuwait and Oman will also send lower-level officials. Moroccan King Mohammed will also not attend the summit.

Arab League foreign ministers did agree on issues that concern the Israeli-Palestinian mini-war. This included supporting an Iraqi effort to provide the Palestinians with about $900 million. The Iraqi plan requires UN approval.

Jordanian authorities have requested that six Israeli journalists who are covering the Arab League meeting to leave the country. The journalists said authorities warned that the journalists were in danger if they stayed in Amman.