DAMASCUS, Syria, April 15 (UPI) -- Diplomats in Syria said Thursday Iraq opposes the presence of Arab forces in the country "under the banner of the U.S. occupation."
The diplomats told UPI Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa told Arab ambassadors in Damascus during a meeting Wednesday Iraqi leaders did not want Arab forces in their country.
They quoted Mousa as saying political and tribal leaders said they would only accept Arab forces "within the framework of the U.N. and after a Security Council resolution that arranges a mechanism for administering Iraq."
The Iraqis reportedly told the chief of the 22-member League they would deal with the Arab forces as "occupation forces if they come under the flag of the coalition forces."
One diplomat quoted Mousa as telling the ambassadors: "I cannot imagine there is an Arab who would accept taking part in the siege of Fallujah."
Mousa's meeting with the Arab envoys came on the eve of a visit by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Armitage to the region to discuss Arab participation in restoring stability in Iraq.
