RIYADH, 26 September — Prince Abdullah, the regent, and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday discussed the Iraq crisis and the Israeli siege of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
In the talks, held during Mubarak’s short visit to Riyadh, the two leaders examined the " situation in the region and the precipitous events that could have negative consequences throughout the Arab world".
Prince Abdullah and Mubarak also discussed the suffering of the Palestinian people and efforts being made to bring about an end to the latest Israeli siege of Arafat’s Ramallah headquarters.
Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency quoted Egyptian Information Minister Safwat El-Sherif, who traveled with Mubarak, as saying the two leaders "discussed the Arab position related to the Iraq issue in light of Baghdad’s announcement agreeing to allow back international inspectors."
"On this issue, the two leaders reviewed contacts made with the Iraqi president related to the need for Iraq’s commitment to UN resolutions," Sherif said.
Egyptian officials said earlier yesterday the talks would tackle a letter from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to Mubarak and Arab efforts to save "the Iraqi people and the region from more destruction and war".
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said on Tuesday Saddam’s letter stressed that his offer on weapons inspections was unconditional so the world could be sure Iraq did not possess, or want, any weapons of mass of destruction.
They also discussed the current Arab, Islamic and international issues and reviewed ways to boost relations between the two countries.
Qatar’s Al-Jazeera television channel said Mubarak would study with Prince Abdullah the possibility of holding an Arab summit, but officials in Cairo and Riyadh did not confirm that. The talks were attended by Prince Mishaal, Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, Prince Miteb, minister of public works and housing, Prince Nawaf, director of intelligence and a number of princes.
