Iraq calls Arab governments to close ranks against US strike

IRAQI Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan called on Arab governments yesterday to stand with Baghdad against any US plans to attack Iraq.

Ramadan told reporters in Damascus that Arab governments should reflect the opinions of their citizens, who believe Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s assertions that any US attack on one Arab country was an attack against them all.

“We are confident of the popular Arab position, and have been reassured by it since the beginning of the conflict. We hope the official position will be the same, and translate the popular Arab position,” he said.