A possible diplomatic solution to the growing tension in the Gulf was proposed by the Arab League yesterday, writes Siona Jenkins. Mr Esmet Abdel-Meguid, Secretary General of the Cairo-based organisation, said the league was working with Iraq, France and Russia to draft a proposal that would be submitted to the UN Security Council.
Under the plan, UN weapons inspectors would be allowed to visit 60 sites previously off-limits to them. Eight remaining presidential sites would be visited by a special team, headed by a "noted international figure" appointed by the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan. Mr Richard Butler, chairman of the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM), would be relegated to the position of vicechairman of the special team.
"This will be a peaceful and diplomatic solution within the framework of the Security Council," said Mr Abdel-Meguid. Whether this dilution of UNSCOM's influence will be acceptable to the US and Britain, who have insisted that Iraq must co-operate with UNSCOM inspectors, remains to be seen.
Mr Abdel-Meguid did not say if the plan would give unconditional access to the sites or if a time limit would be imposed. But he did warn that the US should not ignore the draft proposal.
"The use of force will never, never and I repeat never solve the problem. It will complicate the problem," he said. UNSCOM approval is necessary to lift the UN sanctions imposed on Baghdad after the 1991 Gulf war. Iraq has accused the committee of bias in an attempt to prolong the sanctions, a charge that Mr Abdel-Meguid echoed when he said it was "very difficult" to describe the committee's actions as fair.