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Arabs say council is not government

Arab states will deal with the US-appointed Governing Council in Iraq but not recognize it as a legitimate government, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said.

Maher spoke Monday at the end of a hastily convened meeting with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Syria.

The meeting was called after Israeli warplanes raided Lebanon Sunday following a bombardment by the Syrian-sponsored Hezbollah group that killed an Israeli teenager and wounded five other civilians.

Maher declined to say how he and his colleagues decided to address the revival of fighting along the Israeli-Lebanese border, but said: "It is unimaginable that we meet here without discussing the Israeli provocations."

Israeli officials have warned Lebanon and Syria they will be held responsible for the actions of Hezbollah, which initiated the first exchange of artillery fire in eight months with a bombardment Friday near the confluence of the Syrian, Lebanese and Israeli borders.

Maher accused Israel on Monday of impeding the "road map" peace plan and described Israel's construction of a fence around the Palestinian territories as a violation of the peace process. The plan aims to stem the conflict and set up a Palestinian state by 2005.

"It is clear that the Israelis are violating their obligations under the road map plan and creating conditions that make it difficult for the Palestinians to carry out their obligations," Maher told reporters after meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud.

Maher made clear Arabs would not be swayed by growing support for recognition of the Governing Council in Iraq. Since the Arab League refused to recognize the council early last week, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov have said the body should be recognized as a transitional government.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia, seen as moderates in the Arab world, gave logistical support to the US in the Iraq war.
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