Omar Salahuddin, Special to Arab News

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, 13 October 2003 — The Palestinian representative at an Islamic summit yesterday vowed to pursue an “armed struggle” against Israeli occupation. “They (the Israelis) are not leaving any other alternative for (the Palestinians) than to fight,” Palestine Liberation Organization political chief Farouk Kaddoumi told reporters after his arrival here. Kaddoumi, however, said that civilians should be spared the violence and pointed out that the Palestinian Authority had in the past condemned Palestinian attacks on civilian Israeli targets.

The Palestinian pledge came as the world’s Islamic nations prepared to welcome the post-Saddam Iraqi government at the summit, conferring another layer of legitimacy to the US-picked body.

Foreign ministers of the 57-nation OIC arrived in Malaysia’s sparkling administrative capital, Putrajaya, ahead of meetings today and tomorrow that will prepare a summit of their national leaders on Thursday and Friday.

The status of Iraq since Saddam Hussein was toppled six months ago had led to disagreement in the OIC, with summit host Malaysia contending that no Iraqi government should be seated with the country under US occupation, and the powerful Arab bloc saying that the Governing Council is transitional and legitimate enough, for now.

The Arab view prevailed, and Iraq will be represented by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd, and by Ayad Alawi, current holder of the Council’s rotating leadership.

Delegates said that a resolution would likely welcome the Governing Council but be balanced with calls for Iraq’s return to full independence and sovereignty and control over its own oil.

The resolution “is more of a welcome and acknowledgment of the Governing Council and considering it as a step in the right direction,” said Musa Braiza, a senior official from Jordan. “I am not aware of any opposition.”