Posted on 03/05/2002 12:49:45 AM PST by JohnHuang2
BAGHDAD, March 5 (Reuters) - Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has criticised Arab peace plans for the Middle East and urged Arabs to support the Palestinian uprising against Israel, Iraqi newspapers reported on Tuesday.The newspapers quoted Saddam as saying that Arabs should not offer plans on behalf of the Palestinian people, in a clear reference to a Saudi peace plan.
"Not one of us, not even Saddam Hussein, has the right to act on behalf of Palestine and its people," Saddam said during a meeting with Palestinian Foreign Minister Farouq Qadoumi and other Palestinian officials.
"The Palestinian people do not need projects, and we do not care for projects, and our essential project now is to support the Palestinian people in their armed struggle," he said.
"Anyone able to support the Palestinians with money, men and weapons should do that," Saddam said.
The Saudi plan, floated by Crown Prince Abdullah in mid- February, offers full Arab normalisation of ties with Israel in return for complete Israeli withdrawal from Arab land occupied in the 1967 Middle East War.
The initiative is expected to be the highlight of the March 27-28 Arab summit in Beirut and has drawn a warm international response. Israel has expressed interest with reservations.
Some Arab states have welcomed it, while others, like Lebanon and Syria, have also voiced reservations. Libya is the only Arab country that has so far rejected the plan.
Saddam, maintaining his hard line towards Israel, said: "Any attempt to stop the uprising from outside is a blasphemy, a crime and a conspiracy against the Palestinian people."
"I am pleased that suicide bombings began to be carried out by Fatah," Saddam said of the two deadly ambushes on Sunday carried out by al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of Fatah faction.
He affirmed Iraq's full support for the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian uprising.
Saddam said at the start of the Palestinian uprising in September 2000 that Iraq was ready "to put an end to Zionism" if Arab rulers did not defend the Palestinians against Israel.
He has ordered the formation of military units to fight with the Palestinians against the Israelis, and financial support for families of Palestinian victims of the uprising.
Government figures say nearly seven million Iraqis have volunteered to fight alongside the Palestinians.
More than 1,200 people have died in the 17-month Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.
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