Arab press condemns US

Iraq has less than a week to comply with new resolution

BBC Monitoring looks at the comments of Arab newspapers on Sunday morning, ahead of the Arab League meeting in Cairo.

Al-Dustur
Jordan

"Although it can only be described as bad and unjust, one can only advise the fraternal Iraq to accept Security Council Resolution 1441 and to respond to the 'last chance' resolution in order not to give the USA the chance to destroy an Arab country...

"It is hoped that an Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo today results in a pragmatic, unified stance that would save Iraq's dignity.

"It should also tell the world that the Security Council must be effective not only with regard to Iraq but also vis-à-vis the Palestinian cause for which it has already issued dozens of resolutions, which have fallen victim to the blind US bias to Israel."

Al-Qabas
Kuwait

"It is natural to say that the war to topple Saddam's regime is nigh, given the US field and logistical preparations as well as Washington's political and diplomatic efforts. This has placed the Middle East region on edge in anticipating war."

Al-Ra'i al-Am
Kuwait

"Friday's UN resolution is a declaration of war on Iraq. It only lacks the zero hour.

"President Bush Senior tried to soften the atmosphere when he launched Kuwait's liberation war by promising the Arab peoples to work for a solution to the Arab-Israeli problem and offering concessions to the Arabs.

"Bush Junior, however, does not care about Arabs and he has not made any promises to them. He has quickly lent his support to the Zionist entity, praised its leaders and supplied them with all their needs. It goes to show that the USA could not care less about Arab reaction or absorbing the Arab peoples' anger."

Al-Akhbar
Egypt

"The new resolution provides the USA with the cover it had been seeking in order to realise its desire to hit Iraq and destroy its military capabilities. This has the strongest support and blessings of Israel."

Al-Jumhuriyah
Egypt

"Where has the Security Council been while the Iraqis are dying of hunger, thirst, disease and cold in spite of the screams of those calling for the respect of the humanity of people throughout the planet?"

Al-Wafd
Egypt

"The Security Council resolution on Iraq is a declaration of war and a green light to begin an assault.

"The final version, issued after all attempts to soften it, shows that the aim is for Iraq to reject it because of its impossible clauses. This would give the USA the pretext it seeks to ask for the allies' support and to mute the voices of opposition at home and abroad."

Al-Vefagh
Iran

"It is certain that the wording of the new resolution is not a chance occurence but the outcome of behind-the-scenes agreements and alliances.

"There are no permanent friendships or hostilities in international dealings, but there are permanent interests which change stances or justify actions whenever necessary."

Al-Ra'i
Jordan

"Syria's justification for its vote, which aims to prevent the threat to the region's stability and security, according to senior Syrian officials, may not be convincing if we consider its previous public stances vis-à-vis the US resolution."

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.