Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/24/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= IRAQ / ARAB LEAGUE UPDATE (S)

NUMBER=2-

BYLINE= MAURA FOGARTY

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Arab League foreign ministers have condemned the U-S led military action against Iraq and are calling for the immediate withdrawal of U-S and British forces. Maura Fogarty has more from our Middle East bureau in Cairo.

TEXT: Foreign ministers from countries in the Arab League wrapped up their one-day meeting in Cairo with a resolution condemning what they call "the U-S and British aggression against Iraq." In a statement adopted at the meeting, the foreign ministers said the attack on Iraq was in violation of the U-N charter and in defiance of the international community."

Kuwait was the only country that expressed some reservations about the resolution.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said the group would request an urgent meeting of the U-N Security Council to discuss the U-S led military campaign and to put an end to the war.

The regional grouping also called on "all Arab states to abstain from participating in any military action damaging to the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq or any other Arab country."

But the resolution stopped short of demanding Arab states deny assistance to U-S led forces. Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain are providing direct assistance to coalition troops.

(Signed)

NEB/MF/MAR