Arab press celebrates US 'defeat'

The no-fly zones have been patrolled for over a decade

Arab newspapers are hailing victory over the United States following comments by the United Nations General Secretary Kofi Annan about Iraq's targeting of US jets in the no-fly zones.

Mr Annan dismissed US suggestions that an Iraqi attack on allied aircraft flying near the northern town of Mosul was a violation of the resolution agreed unanimously by the UN Security Council earlier this month.

Responding to Mr Annan's comments, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he was not necessarily in touch with Security Council opinion.

Arab newspapers see it differently - for them, it is Washington that is out on a limb.

US isolated

It is unacceptable to say that Iraq would violate the Security Council if it opens fire on American and British warplanes

al-Khalij

According to the Iraqi daily al-Jumhuriyah, "even Britain is distancing itself from the American position".

"The isolation of America is growing due to the unreasonable escalation of its aggressive attitude towards Iraq," the government-owned paper adds.

In Saudi Arabia, al-Jazirah newspaper agrees, saying that "the USA is now standing alone in claiming that confrontation of its warplanes in southern and northern Iraq would be a violation of resolution 1441.

"Even Britain, the closest ally of the United States, does not agree with the interpretation."

"It is unacceptable to say that Iraq would violate the Security Council if it opens fire on American and British warplanes," concurs Sharjah's al-Khalij.

The leftist UAE daily accuses the United States of behaving as if it represents international law.

The American Administration's policy of seeking excuses to attack Iraq is now exposed

al-Quds al-Arabi

In neighbouring Oman, al-Watan describes the UN refusal to link the no-fly zone patrols to Resolution 1441 as a "bitter political defeat" for Washington.

'Any excuse'

Also in the Gulf, al-Rayah of Qatar accuses Washington of "looking for any excuse to justify its plans".

Jordan's al-Dustur knows why.

It says Iraq's "unconditional acceptance of Security Council resolution 1441 has disappointed the calculations of the hawks" in the Bush administration.

The "reckless and angry statements show that Washington never wished to see Iraq accept the resolution", the paper writes.

Other Arabic dailies are also happy with Iraq's acceptance of the tough new resolution.

"The American Administration's policy of seeking excuses to attack Iraq is now exposed," enthuses the London-based Arab nationalist al-Quds al-Arabi.

Al-Ahram, Egypt's top-selling paper, says that Saddam Hussein's acceptance of UN inspections "will thwart any intentions to trap Iraq".

It calls for the inspectors to be allowed to do their jobs free from pressure from "various world powers" and the Iraqi regime.

Optimists and pessimists

War against Iraq is only a matter of time

al-Quds

Al-Ahram is also hopeful that the inspections will be successful.

"Logic dictates that Iraq will deal with these teams with wisdom, objectivity and honesty because the fate of the Iraqi people and that of the region depend on this," it comments.

The London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat is not so optimistic.

"The task of the arms inspectors in Iraq is not an easy one, and obstacles appearing cannot be ruled out," it says, calling on both sides to take a positive approach.

"Success is required," the Saudi-owned daily declares. "It is essential for the future of Iraq, and also for that of all the region."

In Jerusalem, meanwhile, the Palestinian al-Quds sees no hope at all.

"War against Iraq is only a matter of time," it says.

"Excuses to launch it could be fabricated and the international community has no means of preventing it."

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.