AMMAN, Jordan, July 25 (UPI) -- Arabs will press for an immediate cease-fire in the raging war between Israel and Hezbollah at an international conference to convene in Rome Wednesday.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel Ilah al-Khatib told a press conference Tuesday the Arab countries will have a unified and clear stance at the Rome conference, stressing the need for an immediate cease-fire and supporting the Lebanese government in extending its control over all national territory.
He said Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are closely cooperating in that regard, stressing that the dramatic developments in Lebanon "are a source of deep concern for all which makes the cease-fire and ending attacks on Lebanese civilians a priority.
"We stand by Lebanon as a state and government and priority is to silencing weapons and stopping the killing of civilians and destruction of civilian infrastructure," Khatib said.
The international conference on the Lebanon-Israel crisis will be attended by foreign ministers from the United States, France and Russia; Arab countries such as Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia; and delegates from the United Nations and the European Union.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, for his part, warned of an expansion of violence and destruction in the Middle East region in case the world failed to achieve an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon.
"We are in a destructive situation and if we fail to find a quick solution for the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, destruction will extend everywhere," Mubarak said.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia stepped up its tone against Israel cautioning that the failure of peace efforts in the Middle East will lead to an open-ended all-out war.
Saudi King Abdullah on Tuesday was quoted by state television as saying "if the option for peace collapses due to Israeli arrogance, no other option will be left except war."
