Annan focuses on Iraq at summit

Pressure is growing for the lifting of UN sanctions

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged Iraq to co-operate with, not confront its neighbours, amid Arab calls for the lifting of sanctions against Iraq.

King Abdullah of Jordan told the Arab summit in Amman that it was time to end what he called the inconceivable suffering of the Iraqi people.

The Iraqi leadership will achieve more through co-operation with its neighbours, rather than through confrontation

Kofi Annan

Mr Annan told delegates he was aware the Arab world believed the international community used double standards to punish Iraqi and Israeli violations of Security Council resolutions.

But he added that the Iraqi leadership would achieve much more through co-operation rather than confronting its neighbours, in particular Kuwait.

He saved his toughest words for Israeli security policies, calling their closure of the Palestinian territories "collective punishment".

But he reminded Arab leaders that Israel had a right to exist within recognised borders.

"There is no solution to be found in violence, and no sense in postponing the day when the parties return to the table," he said, urging both sides to resume peace talks.

'Inconceivable suffering'

Disputes over Iraq threatened to overshadow the meeting, with Baghdad calling for a resolution on ending UN sanctions.

Jordan's King Abdullah is hosting the summit

Driven by popular Arab support, Iraq has asked fellow Arab countries not only to demand a lifting of sanctions, but to break them.

Baghdad also wants an end to the Western-imposed no-fly zones.

Jordan's King Abdullah backed the move to lift sanctions. He said:

"The inconceivable suffering of our brethren in Iraq has gone on for far too long. It is time to end this suffering, and to lift the embargo."

But Kuwait and Saudi Arabia remain opposed, insisting on assurances that Iraq is no longer a threat.

Draft communique

The two-day summit is also intended to show Arab support for the Palestinian uprising against Israel.

Annan has backed Arafat's complaints about closure

The draft communique condemns Israeli security measures and calls for a revival of the Arab boycott to force Israel's new government to return to peace talks.

Arab leaders are also expected to endorse an emergency loan to the Palestinians.

So far they have received only a tiny fraction of the $1bn dollars promised six months ago.

Show of unity

President Mubarak of Egypt told the 14 heads of state that he hoped the summit would help reconcile all Arabs.

Arab ministers have been keen to emphasise their unity over the two main issues.

"There are no points of disagreement. They are merely different approaches which we are trying to reconcile," Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Belkadem said.

Syrian Foreign Minister, Farouk al-Sharaa, seemed even more upbeat, saying: "A common ground has been reached and points of disagreement are now narrow."