Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=2/9/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ/ARAB MEETING (S-UPD)

NUMBER=2-299416

BYLINE=GREG LAMOTTE

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Saying there is little they can do to prevent a war, the leaders of three Arab countries and the head of the Arab League are urging Iraq to cooperate with U-N weapons inspectors. V-O-A's Greg LaMotte reports Egypt President Hosni Mubarak hosted a mini summit with Libya's Muammar Gadhafi, Syrian President Bashar al Assad, and Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa.

TEXT: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak says the Arab world is, in his word, "powerless" to prevent a U-S led attack against Iraq.

The Egyptian leader said the Bush administration, the U-S Congress, the U-N Security Council and the British parliament are the ones who can "put off, accelerate, or carry out the war."

Mr. Mubarak said he had sent a plea to Baghdad urging Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to find an avenue to avoid armed conflict.

The Egyptian leader made his comments after hosting a high-level Arab mini-summit in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh that was attended by Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa.

Meanwhile, in a diplomatic surprise, Iraq's foreign minister, Naji Sabri, traveled to Tehran for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi.

Iran is opposed to the government of Saddam Hussein and has funded groups seeking to overthrow the Iraqi leader. But Tehran rejects military action against Baghdad, fearing, among other things, greater U-S influence in the region. (SIGNED)

NEB/GL/ALW/RAE