The petition, signed by poets, writers, lawyers, academics and senior civil servants as well as businessmen, condemned American unilateralism throughout the world.

“World order and peace are facing deep risks due to U.S insistence on controlling and running the destinies of peoples, weakening international legitimacy, and opening the way for the disintegration of world relations,” said the document obtained by Quds Press.

“Washington protects the Israeli arsenal of mass destruction weapons while it masses up troops against Iraq claiming it wants to disarm Baghdad of such weapons. It is well known that the U.S. itself was the only country in the history of mankind to use such weapons in Japan, then in Chinese Indies,” it added.

“In light of that dangerous situation on the world level – threatening to explode at any minute – and in light of the huge U.S.-British military build up, aiming to invade Iraq and control its future and wealth, we assure all peace lovers and seekers worldwide that such an invasion is certain to bring about chaos and anarchy to the whole region.”

The petition voiced fears that "Israel will benefit from new circumstances to demolish the peace process and finish off the Palestinian question."

The intellectuals, meanwhile, hailed the stance of China, France, Germany and Russia which have come out against war in favor of extended disarmament inspections in Iraq.

They also hailed the anti-war stance strongly taken by the peoples of the world, “especially the American and European peoples for their brave anti-war stance”.

The document also opposed the use of Arab territory to wage war on Iraq and urged Arab governments "to satisfy the aspirations of their people for freedom and democracy".

Such political statements have been rare in the kingdom, although more than 100 leading Saudi Islamic figures and liberal reformists presented a "vision for constitutional reform" to Crown Prince Abdullah in January.

The reformists said the prince told them domestic reform was only a matter of time.

Prince Abdullah had the same month launched an initiative that called on Arabs to adopt political reform and expand popular participation, which analysts interpreted as a message for change at home.

The conservative kingdom has an appointed parliament, the Shura council, whose powers are limited to reviewing government-sponsored draft bills and making recommendations to the cabinet.

Helping U.S. A "Grave Sin"

In a separate related development, a group of leading Saudi religious scholars ruled Saturday that cooperation with the United States in an attack against Iraq was a grave sin.

"We affirm that it is a grave sin for individuals and governments to cooperate with the U.S. administration in its aggression, directly or indirectly," said a statement signed by 32 academics and scholars.

"We call on all governments, in general, and those in the region, in particular, to reject this malicious American intervention (carried out) under any pretext," said the statement, a copy of which was sent to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The signatories included leading religious reformists Safar al-Hawali, Salman al-Oudeh and Mohammad al-Khudair, in addition to theology professors at several Islamic universities in Saudi Arabia.

"The Ummah (Muslim nation) today is facing an alliance of aggression led by the United States, supported by extremist (groups of) Jews and Christians ... All Muslims must ally against this aggression and mobilize to confront it," it said.

However, the scholars warned Muslims against shedding the blood of their fellow Muslims or non-Muslims living in their countries, in reference to a series of shootings targeting Westerners in the kingdom, saying this was not allowed by Islam.