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http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0608071773181509.htm

Arab League foreign ministers hold emergency meeting on Lebanon
Beirut, Aug 7, IRNA

Lebanon-Arab League-Emergency Meeting
The foreign ministers of the League of Arab States held an emergency meeting in Beirut on Monday to voice solidarity with Lebanon.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora appealed to fellow Arab states to help stop Israeli aggression against Lebanon.

according to IRNA, Siniora burst into tears while delivering his speech to the audience and reading a report on death of more civilians at the Lebanese village of Houla.

Meanwhile, Arab leaders are considering holding an emergency summit on Lebanon in Saudi Arabia later this week.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal was expected to make the call during the current emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Beirut Monday.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa was quoted by Lebanese newspaper As-Safir as saying that there was agreement in principle among Arab countries to hold a summit.

Moussa, who arrived in Beirut Sunday, added that chances for a summit would become clearer after the meeting of Arab foreign ministers.

Moussa, following a meeting with President Emile Lahoud Monday, said the ministers would also consider whether those Arab countries having diplomatic relations with Israel must summon their ambassadors.

"This has become a widespread demand," he said.

The Arab foreign ministers' meeting comes as senior Lebanese officials have objected to the context of a draft resolution the US and France have drawn up for the UN Security Council.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said upon his arrival in Beirut on Sunday that the Franco-US draft resolution is a recipe for further aggression on Lebanon.

He said that the resolution should call for withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and Shebaa Valley.

"Otherwise, ceasefire would be meaningless, because, the Lebanese defense force should fight occupation."
1416/1412

---> Lebanon-Arab League-Emergency Meeting

News sent: 18:15 Monday August 07, 2006

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0608075325181431.htm

Iran calls for dismantling of WMD: envoy
Kuala Lumpur, Aug 7, IRNA

Iran-New Zealand-Envoy
Iran's Ambassador to New Zealand Kambiz Sheikh-Hassani said in Wellington on Monday that Tehran calls for dismantling of all weapons of mass destruction in the world.

"(Former Iraqi president) Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons of the US and Europe against the Iranian nation during the Iraqi- imposed war...We called for dismantling of weapons of mass destruction particularly dangerous weapons of the Zionist regime.

"We have followed up this goal at the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) for several years," he said.

Pointing to Iran's peaceful nuclear program, he added that "Iran' just demand for recognition of its rights is based on international law, rules and regulations. Tehran has so far acted within the framework of international regulations and safeguard agreements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"We believe the IAEA is the only legal source to study Iran's nuclear case. Interference of the United Nations Security Council has no legal base and just adds more complications to the issue." Referring to ongoing developments in Palestine and Lebanon, the ambassador said the events were indications of evil acts in its most destructive form.

"Ongoing events are not limited to just Hizbollah, Hamas and arrest of three Israeli soldiers because the Zionist regime has imprisoned thousands of Palestinians and Lebanese for several years," he said.

He added, "Tragedies of Gaza and Lebanon are aim to have a control over the regional and the entire world.

"This hegemony is aim to overcome over developing states either through friendly channels or military occupation and economic and trade sanction."
Sheikh-Hassani stated, "We warn that ongoing moves in Lebanon and Gaza can be regarded as a deadly prelude for very greater events at regional and international levels.

"Mass use of military force, blind massacre and destruction will never bring in security, rather it will bear adverse consequences." 2327/2321/1414

---> Iran-New Zealand-Envoy

News sent: 18:14 Monday August 07, 2006

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0608076166181310.htm

US aims to distance Iran from its neighbors: Rafsanjani
Mashhad, Khorassan Razavi Prov, Aug 7, IRNA

Iran-Rafsanjani-US
The West, led by the United States, intend to create a wedge between Iran and its neighboring Islamic countries, Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here Sunday.

"The US opposes the Islamic Republic of Iran. Currently, it is working to cause discord and create a pessimistic view of our system in international circles," Rafsanjani said at a meeting with ulema and professors of Mashhad seminary.

"We have an Islamic mission. Our message is Islam. The Islamic Revolution came as a clear message of the Holy Quran for the world." Referring to Iran's nuclear case, Rafsanjani blasted a resolution passed last Monday by the UN Security Council, saying "Superpowers have carried out a very nasty job using Iran's nuclear case as a pretext and issued a statement against us based on Chapter 7 of the UN Charter."
He said the resolution had discredited the United Nations and other superpowers and revealed their true identity to the world.

He said Israel's attack on a small country like Lebanon was a trick pre-scheduled by the US for the region.

The EC chairman added that the Zionist regime's military offensive in Lebanon was a savage move planned by the US.

"Those powers who speak of democracy, freedom and defense for human rights are happy with these ominous events.

Pointing to the massive damage caused by the Zionist regime to Lebanon setting the country decades backward, he said "The effects of the war should be studied from different points of view, the most important of which is the damage that has been caused to its military by an Islamic move."
2327/2321/1414

---> Iran-Rafsanjani-US