The Hindu : Arab nations want coalition forces to leave Iraq

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 20, 2003

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Arab nations want coalition forces to leave Iraq

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA APRIL 19. After witnessing the removal of the Ba'athist regime in Iraq, key Arab countries now want the U.S. and British forces to leave their backyard.

Keen to draw a post-war Iraq in an Arab sphere of influence, Iraq's neighbours, along with Bahrain and Egypt have declared in their meeting in Riyadh on Friday that they did not wish the U.S. troops to occupy the political space vacated by the ouster of the regime of the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein.

This view was most strongly espoused by Saudi Arabia, Iran and Egypt.

"We call on the occupying power, which we hope will withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible, to quickly put in place an interim government with a view to setting up a constitutional government," said the Saudi Foreign Minister, Saud Al Faisal, on Friday.

All the three countries derive benefits from the downfall of Mr. Hussein's regime. Iran, which fought a bitter eight-year war with Iraq has reasons to feel satisfied to see the end of Mr. Hussein's regime. Saudi Arabia which was subjected to missile attacks by Mr. Hussein's Government would also be relieved to see its back.

But the three counties, to varying degrees are, nevertheless, worried about the U.S. troops filling the political vacuum. The possibility that the U.S. troops would remain permanently positioned next door in Iraq has definitely alarmed Iran and may have triggered a fresh sense of insecurity in Saudi Arabia. Both these counties apprehend that, after Iraq, they could also be subjected to the U.S. "regime change" initiatives.

Apart from seeking the departure of the U.S. forces, Arab countries in their meeting in Riyadh also declared that they did not wish the Anglo-American forces to play a major political role in Iraq.

Not surprisingly, they have sought the U.N.'s lead role in Iraq's political and economic reconstruction.

The media in Saudi Arabia has also sounding that the Arab League should also be allowed to open an office in Baghdad to assist the U.N. in the reconstruction effort.

Iran, with the fall of the regime of Mr. Hussein is showing signs of seeking to draw post-war Baghdad in the Shia orbit that it steers from Qom. The Iranian English daily, Tehran Times described yesterday's Friday prayers as "the first crystallisation of reaction among the Muslim clergy to the three-week war and occupation by the U.S. forces."

The daily pointed to the congregation in Karbala of Shia worshippers which will culminate on Tuesday to "also provide an opportunity for the Shias to flex their new political muscle" in Iraq.

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