"We reiterate our rejection of any war on Iraq, on Kuwait or any other Arab country," said Lahoud (left)

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, March 1 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Arab leaders opened a summit at this Egyptian Red Sea resort Saturday, March 1, with plans to issue a statement proclaiming their "total rejection" of any U.S.-led war on Iraq.

Addressing the opening session, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, outgoing president of the summit, reiterated opposition to any U.S.-led war on Iraq, while his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak, the host, stressed that enough time should be given to Iraq to implement the U.N. disarmament resolutions.

"We reiterate our rejection of any war on Iraq, on Kuwait or any other Arab country," said Lahoud, before handing over the summit presidency to King Hamad bin Eisa al-Khalifa of Bahrain.

He also called on Iraq "to cooperate with the United Nations and the (weapons) inspectors," tasked with disarming Baghdad.

Lahoud voiced support for a French-German initiative submitted to the U.N. Security Council, which is aimed at reinforcing inspections in Baghdad.

"The French-German declaration, backed by Russia, the French-African summit and the meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as the recent meeting of Arab foreign ministers and the Vatican, have all highlighted the rejection of a war because of its human and political grave consequences," Lahoud stressed.

Mubarak Urges More Time

In his speech, President Mubarak pleaded for more time to allow Iraq's peaceful disarmament and avoid a U.S.-led war.

"Sufficient time should be allowed for Iraq to show its seriousness to implement (U.N.) resolutions," said Mubarak, urging Baghdad "to show more cooperation" with arms inspectors.

"We believe that the ideal way is to resort to international legality and ... to leave this issue in the framework of the U.N. Security council," he added, implicitly rejecting any U.S.-led war without U.N. authorization.

He warned that a conflict "would have dangerous consequences" and "could spread to neighboring countries" of Iraq, urging Arab states to show unity in the face of the crisis.

"When it is a strategic issue, we should remain united ... Differences can only be allowed on issues that are not critical for our future," he said.

Prince Abdullah Meets Iraqi Official

Prince Abdullah has held talks with Ezzat Ibrahim, the head of the Iraqi delegation to the Arab summit, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The two men "reviewed topics on the agenda of the Arab summit," which is topped by U.S. threats to attack Iraq, SPA added without providing further details on the talks that took place late Friday, February 28.

"When it is a strategic issue, we should remain united ... Differences can only be allowed on issues that are not critical for our future," cautioned Mubarak

Abdullah and Ibrahim met for the first time in 12 years at the Arab summit in Beirut last March, marking a thaw in relations frozen since Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990.

Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan said in August Baghdad was ready to restore relations with Saudi Arabia when Riyadh judges fit.

Trade relations between the two Arab neighbors have recently improved after a large Saudi business delegation visited Baghdad in October and the opening of the main border post between them at Arar in November.

Riyadh has so far resisted pressure from its key western ally the United States to take part in a threatened U.S. war against Baghdad to topple President Saddam Hussein over his regime's alleged banned weapons programs.

Arabs Narrow Differences on Iraq

Arab foreign ministers drafted Friday a compromise text that seems to satisfy both Iraq and the Gulf Arab states, such as Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, which are hosting the U.S.-led military buildup in the region, they said.

The draft calls on "Iraq's neighbors to abstain from joining any military action against the country, its security and territorial integrity," and "absolutely reject a war against Iraq."

It is seen as satisfactory to Kuwait and Gulf Arab states bound by defense pacts with the United States as they can argue that, in the event of a war, they are not directly participating in the attack and that U.S. forces operating out of its territory are doing so under U.N. cover.

"We do not trust Iraq, but we want a peaceful settlement to the crisis and avoid war," Kuwaiti Information Minister Ahmed Al-Fahd Al-Sabah told reporters.

"Kuwait will not participate in any military action against Iraq," he said, while adding that the emirate, as a U.N. member, was bound by international law."

He pointed out that U.N. Security Council resolutions on Iraq were taken under Chapter VII of the charter, which allows military action to enforce them.

He also explained that the defense pact signed with the United States after the February 1991 liberation of the emirate from a seven-month Iraqi military occupation was "the security guarantee of Kuwait in the face of Iraqi threats and imposes obligations" on the emirate towards the United States.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa told reporters that "there is total agreement between Arab states.

"The summit will send a clear message to everybody that we cannot support military action against Iraq and that we are for the full implementation of UN Security Council resolutions," he added.

Diplomats said the leaders will also consider a blueprint for action that includes sending a three-country delegation to Baghdad, Washington and to the United Nations to mediate in the stand-off.

But delegates said the initiative had little chances of approval because Prince Abdullah and Ibrahim had agreed on not backing it.

Iraq fears that such a delegation would act as a U.S.-tool to exert more pressure on Baghdad, they added.

Nearly half the 22-member League are represented at the summit by heads of state, and the others, including Iraq and Kuwait, by top ministers and officials.