Egypt is reported to have ruled out calls for an Arab summit to discuss whether to help Iraq break sanctions imposed by the United Nations since the Gulf crisis in 1991.

A spokesman for the Presidential office in Cairo, Osama al-Baz, said it was unrealistic for Arab countries to take part in a summit attended by Iraqi leaders.

A meeting of Arab foreign ministers due to discuss Iraq on Wednesday has been postponed until after the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Iraq has called on Arab countries to rally round to help it to by-pass the UN sanctions, saying they are unjust.

On Sunday, Arab parliamentarians meeting in Jordan condemned the American-led air raids against Iraq, but stopped short of endorsing calls to break the UN embargo.