Islamic nations to back Iraqi council
If approved, the resolution would give another layer of legitimacy to the Iraqi body.
Meanwhile, a senior Palestinian official issued a statement yesterday saying Palestinians are entitled to fight Israel’s occupation of their land by any means. He didn’t elaborate, but in the past the Palestinian Authority has condemned suicide attacks.
The gathering of the 57 countries in the Islamic Conference, the world’s biggest Muslim political grouping, is its first regular summit since the September 11 attacks brought terrorism to the centre of world politics. The meeting opened on Saturday.
Divisions over Iraq threatened to prevent Islamic leaders from finding a unified voice to address a widespread feeling that the war against terrorism has turned into a war against Muslims.
But delegates said yesterday that during their meeting here they expect to adopt a resolution acknowledging the Governing Council. The recognition, however, would be balanced with calls for Iraq’s return to full independence and control over its oil.
The resolution “is more of a welcome and acknowledgment of the Governing Council and considering it as a step in the right direction,” said Musa Braiza, a senior official from Jordan. “I am not aware of any opposition.”
Before the meeting, summit host Malaysia contended no Iraqi government should be seated at the gathering because the country is under US occupation.
But the powerful Arab bloc said the Governing Council is transitional and legitimate enough, for now. The bloc prevailed, and Iraq is being represented by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd, and by Ayad Alawi, current holder of the council’s rotating leadership.
Israel will also be a major topic of discussion at the summit. Syria is expected to receive a strong resolution condemning Israel for last week’s airstrike against an alleged Palestinian training camp on its soil, a day after a Palestinian suicide bombing that killed 20 Israelis.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad accused Israel of staging the attack in hopes of triggering US backing in a wider Mideast war.
