Arab leaders 'deeply sceptical' of Iraq plan

Arab leaders were deeply sceptical today of the US plan for Iraq, a day after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice tried to sell it to them. Kuwait’s emir told Rice that America should work with Iran and Syria, officials said - something Bush has rejected.

The Bush administration plans to send US under-secretary of state for political affairs Nicholas Burns on another Middle East shuttle to offer more details in an effort to persuade Arab leaders who are increasingly fearful over Iraq, a US diplomat said.