EGYPT: ARAB LEAGUE GENERAL SECRETARY AMR MOUSSA IN CAIRO CALLS FOR DIPLOMACY TO PREVENT A WAR AGAINST IRAQ BY U.S.LED FORCES.
Record ID:
223051
EGYPT: ARAB LEAGUE GENERAL SECRETARY AMR MOUSSA IN CAIRO CALLS FOR DIPLOMACY TO PREVENT A WAR AGAINST IRAQ BY U.S.LED FORCES.
- Title: EGYPT: ARAB LEAGUE GENERAL SECRETARY AMR MOUSSA IN CAIRO CALLS FOR DIPLOMACY TO PREVENT A WAR AGAINST IRAQ BY U.S.LED FORCES.
- Date: 18th March 2003
- Summary: (W5) CAIRO, EGYPT (MARCH 18, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. MV: SECRETARY GENERAL OF ARAB LEAGUE AMR MOUSSA MEETING THE PRESS. 0.05 2. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY GENERAL OF ARAB LEAGUE AMR MOUSSA SAYING: "We should not abandon the diplomatic work up until the last minute and we hope we can avoid a military action with the collective work of the Arab members states and also other countries who are all in their vast majority interested in the peaceful development of the issue of Iraq rather than war. As you know and see the opposition is mounting all over. The war is unjustified and enough time should be given to the Security Council to its mechanism to achieve what the Security Council in its resolutions has reaffirmed once and time again. Well we are going to discuss that on the ministerial level and on an ambassadorial level very soon: Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I know that and as you know we are all working under the mandate given by the summit, which has clearly opposed any military action against Iraq." 1.19 3. SCU: JOURNALISTS LISTENING TO MOUSSA. 1.22 4. MV/ZOOM IN/SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SECRETARY GENERAL OF ARAB LEAGUE AMR MOUSSA SAYS TO PRESS, SAYING: "This plan has to be reconsidered because the inspectors must continue their work. This is a general view, request and hope that any military reaction would be avoided and the work of the Security Council would continue. This is for the benefit of all and the benefit peace in the area and in benefit for global consensus because war will cause divisions and as you see there will be rage if this decision is taken." 1.59 5. LAS: EXTERIOR OF ARAB LEAGUE BUILDING. 2.04 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 2nd April 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: CAIRO, EGYPT
- Country: Egypt
- Reuters ID: LVA9GNXPW7XY7504TPPCXXK0KT83
- Story Text: The Arab League has called for international diplomacy
to prevent a war against Iraq as U.S.-British forces prepared
to invade after U.S. President George W. Bush gave Iraqi
leader Saddam Hussein 48 hours to flee the country or face
war.
The Arab League called on Tuesday (March 18) for
diplomatic efforts to prevent a war against Iraq to continue,
warning that an attack on the Arab state would cause greater
divisions.
"We should not abandon the diplomatic work up until the
last minute and we hope we can avoid a military action with
the collective work of the Arab members states and also other
countries who are all in their vast majority interested in the
peaceful development of the issue of Iraq rather than war"
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said.
"War will cause divisions and as you see there will be
rage if this decision is taken" warned Moussa.
U.N. weapons inspectors pulled out of Iraq on Tuesday and
U.S.-British forces prepared to invade after U.S. President
George W. Bush gave Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein 48 hours to
flee the country or face war.
Washington accuses Iraq of hiding weapons of mass
destruction, a charge it denies.
Moussa said Security Council resolutions demanding Iraq's
disarmament did not give "a licence" for any military action
or contain deadlines after which force could be used.
Earlier on Tuesday, the League denied media reports that
Moussa was heading to Baghdad in an effort to avert a war.
An Arab League official, who declined to be named, said a
visit by Moussa had been scheduled but had now been postponed.
A trip to Baghdad by an official Arab peace mission was
called off last week at Iraq's request.
Arab leaders meeting under League auspices in Egypt
earlier this month said they opposed an attack on Iraq as a
threat to Arab national security.
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