Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=03/13/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ /ARAB DELEGATION (S O)

NUMBER=2-300632

BYLINE=GREG LaMOTTE

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: An Arab peace mission to Baghdad has been called off, and there is no word on whether the trip will be rescheduled. VOA's Greg LaMotte reports the high-ranking Arab delegation was to meet with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein tomorrow.

TEXT: The delegation, consisting of the foreign ministers of Egypt, Lebanon, Bahrain, Syria, Tunisia and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, was to travel to Baghdad Friday in what was widely seen as a last-ditch Arab effort to avert war in Iraq. However, without any explanation, the planned visit was called off Thursday and there is no word on whether it will be rescheduled.

The delegation was formed during an Arab League summit earlier this month in Egypt after Arab leaders agreed to send a high-ranking delegation to both the U-N Security Council and Baghdad. The delegation made the trip to New York last week.

Thursday the foreign ministers and the head of the Arab League were scheduled to meet in Bahrain with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and then travel on to Baghdad for a meeting with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

The Arab League said the purpose of the delegation was to put forth the Arab position regarding possible war with Iraq and to, among other things, urge the Iraqi president to fully cooperate with U-N weapons inspectors. (Signed)

NEB/GL/KL