Arab countries appeal for both sides to spare civilian lives

ARAB states appealed yesterday for both sides to spare civilian lives in the showdown between insurgents and US-led forces in Fallujah.

“To expose Iraqi or foreign civilians to danger in any place on Arab territory stirs dread,” said Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheith after talks in Cairo with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari. “All measures must be adopted to prevent civilian deaths,” he said.

“A recourse to force that leads to civilian deaths is not acceptable for the international community or the United Nations, and it runs contrary to the rules of international law,” said Abul Gheith.

Jordan joined in the appeal as US and Iraqi forces prepared for a ferocious assault on Fallujah.

“We hope that all the parties will avoid making the Iraqi people, particularly civilians and families in Fallujah, pay a heavy price,” government spokeswoman Asma Khodr told reporters in Amman.

“The Iraqi people need to recover their sovereignty in order to build their institutions and achieve security and stability, and hold elections based on unity,” she said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi gave the formal go-ahead yesterday for the 20,000 multinational troops camped out around Fallujah to launch the assault.

Arab League chief Amr Mussa, meanwhile, appealed for dialogue to avoid fresh bloodshed in Iraq.

“Dialogue can win the day over violence even if it is necessary to establish stability and security, so as to spare Iraqi civilians the scourge of military clashes.”