Southeast Asian nations will tread a delicate path over any war in Iraq to maintain ties with major trading partner the US without alienating their large Muslim populations, a senior official said yesterday.
Further complicating their position are concerns over the potential for more deadly attacks by Islamic militants and the impact of high oil prices, said Ong Keng-yong, secretary-general of the 10-member ASEAN.
"With this decision by the United States to go ahead without the United Nations, the position of ASEAN is very tricky," Ong said.
They will meet at a two-day retreat of group foreign ministers that starts today in the Malaysia's Sabah state on Borneo island.
"For ASEAN to come out openly and support the Americans would be suicidal," Ong said. "America is not expecting any ASEAN country to do that."
Some ASEAN members, however, are likely to offer quiet support, such as helping with passage of personnel, ships and aircraft, he said.
"We will see some positive action done in a way that does not make other countries feel uncomfortable," Ong said.
US President George W. Bush has given Iraqi President Saddam Hussein 48 hours to go into exile or face an attack.
ASEAN members range from Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, to tiny communist Laos and the prosperous city state of Singapore, and some of their positions are very different.
Indonesia and mostly Muslim Malaysia are firmly against any US attack on Iraq. They are both worried anger among their people may lead to more militancy in a region where Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network has already established ties with local groups and is suspected of plotting last October's Bali bombing.
Washington can count on greater support from staunch allies, Singapore and the Philippines.
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