Saudis urge Iraq to admit inspectors, may let US use bases

12.00pm - By KATHERINE BUTLER

The Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal has indicated the Kingdom would allow the United States to strike Iraq from Saudi bases.

In an apparent shift of position he also urged Iraq to move quickly to allow the return of UN weapons inspectors to ward off such an attack.

Last month the Saudi Foreign Minister made it clear that Prince Sultan airbase near Riyadh, which hosts most of the 5000 US troops in Saudi Arabia, would be off limits for the launch of any US military action against the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

But yesterday in an interview with CNN, he appeared to relax that opposition when asked if Saudi bases would be available should the UN Security Council authorise military action against Iraq.

"Everybody is obliged to follow through," he said.

In an interview in the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Al-Hayat, the Prince urged Iraq to admit UN weapons inspectors before a new Security Council resolution clears the way for an attack if it refuses.

"Timing is important, and allowing inspectors back before a Security Council resolution to that effect would be in Iraq's favour" he said.

"We are afraid that (a refusal) would harm the Iraqi people and increase their burden. We are worried about Iraq's unity, stability and independence," al-Faisal said.

In a separate interview with the BBC, the Prince said Iraq could "finish the crisis" by inviting weapons inspectors in. The Iraqi people would be spared "great hardships".

Some twenty Arab foreign ministers of countries which make up the Arab League met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly at the weekend and also delivered a message calculated to step up the pressure on Baghdad over weapons inspections.

"We said loudly and clearly that we are for the integrity of Iraq, for the stability of Iraq as well as for the full implementation of all the resolutions regarding Iraq," Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud said.

"We would like to see the observers going back to Iraq and with them will come peace for the Iraqi people and stability for Iraq."

"We are hoping to reach an arrangement for everybody and for peace in general," he said.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said he stressed to the Iraqi foreign Naji Sabri that the Arab ministers want the inspectors back, and that he should consult with Baghdad and get a decision for Annan.

"It was a unanimous position taken by everybody, appealing to the Iraqis to convey to the secretary-general as soon as possible for the decision for the inspectors to return," Mr Maher said.

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