Gulf states split with Iraq allies over sanctions

CAIRO — The Arab League is once again divided over the future of United Nations sanctions on Iraq.

Once again, the dispute pits Kuwait and Saudi Arabia against Iraq's allies. Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Sahaf has succeeded in placing the Iraqi issue on the Arab League summit agenda. But the foreign ministers are divided over what to discuss.

Allies of Iraq want the Arab League to focus on demands to lift UN sanctions imposed on Baghdad. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, however, want any call to end sanctions linked to Iraq's commitment to UN resolutions. Kuwait is also demanding that the Arab League discusses what the emirate says is Iraq's refusal to free prisoners taken during the 1990 Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.

Arab sources said the divisions over Iraq led to a harsh exchange between foreign ministers during their meeting in Cairo on Monday night.

Arab League secretary-general Ismat Abdul-Meguid has acknowledged the dispute. But he said Arab League foreign ministers agreed during their summit on Tuesday to discuss the UN sanctions on Iraq. The foreign ministers will continue consultations on the Iraq issue until the March 27 leadership summit.

Egypt, Jordan and Syria support an unconditional end to the UN embargo on Iraq. Egypt, Jordan and Qatar are responsible for drafting the Iraqi agenda for the Arab League summit.

But Gulf countries remain suspicious of Iraq and believe it will use the lifting of sanctions to threaten Baghdad's neighbors. They want to discuss Iraqi threats against Kuwait.

"This requires a political solution based on dialogue and openness," Qatar Foreign Affairs Minister Hamad Bin Jassem Al Thani said. On Wednesday, Syrian President Hafez Assad hosted a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah. The three Arab leaders were expected to discuss the Arab League summit and the Iraqi issue.

The London-based Al Hayat reported on Wednesday that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is considering making an appearance at the Amman summit. Saddam has not left the country since the 1991 Gulf war.