P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News Staff

JEDDAH, 6 September 2003 — The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council does not plan to send troops to Iraq to help maintain security in the war-torn country, the secretary-general of the alliance said in remarks published yesterday.

Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya said the issue of sending troops from the Gulf Arab states was not under discussion. “There is no intention to send troops,” he told Al-Riyadh Arabic newspaper.

Attiya gave no reason for this, but the GCC states are known to be worried about domestic opposition to Washington’s continued occupation of Iraq.

The United States, facing almost daily casualties in Iraq, has drafted a new UN resolution aimed at getting more countries to contribute soldiers and cash to its occupation. The GCC groups Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Newly appointed Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has said he and his fellow ministers would not welcome troops from neighboring countries because they might meddle in Iraq’s affairs.

Attiya welcomed the newly formed Iraqi Cabinet which he said would help Iraqis re-establish security in the country and safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Attiya’s remarks came ahead of a meeting of GCC foreign ministers here tomorrow. Attiya said the meeting is held amid extraordinary developments. The secretary-general indicated that the ministers would focus on Palestine, the situation in Iraq and the fight against terrorism. A GCC source said the ministers “will exchange points of view on developments in Iraq in light of the regional tour by a delegation from the Iraqi Governing Council and the announcement of the Iraqi postwar Cabinet.”