The ministers also discussed a Yemeni initiative that calls for US-led forces in Iraq to be replaced by a multinational force under UN oversight. It does not commit Arab troops to Iraq.
Arab League official Hisham Youssef indicated delegates weren't ruling out committing Arab forces to Iraq, but that they would need to clarify command structures before that could happen.
The initiative also seeks an Iraqi meeting, held under UN and Arab League auspices, on writing an Iraqi constitution and laying out the framework of a new Iraqi government. UN officials have proposed a similar idea. Delegates said the Iraqi delegation was not willing to discuss the new ideas.
The Yemeni initiative repeats Arab calls for a UN Security Council resolution to commit Israel to end violence, but it also seeks a Palestinian commitment to "end all forms of armed resistance" -- which would be a dramatic change for Arab nations.
RSS