ARAB AFFAIRS - Sept. 19 - Arab League Wary Over Co-operation.

Arab League Sec.-Gen. Amr Moussa tells the FT the US-led coalition to fight terrorism should be distinguished from the Gulf war alliance, adding: "A coalition to fight a war, as in the Gulf war, is not on the cards and it would be a war against whom? There is confusion - Osama Bin Ladin is one person. The Arabs would take part in the co-operation only after consultations and after they know how it works". But Kuwaiti Defence Minister Shaikh Jaber Al Hamad Al Sabah says: "All options are possible, including this option to fight against the horrors of terrorism". (One week after the terrorist attacks on the US, Arab leaders - caught between public opinion and genuine outrage at the brutality of the attacks - are sending a message: we need evidence. Arab leaders stress that any US actions should have the stamp of the UN. Egypt is pushing for a conference under the aegis of the UN to address the problem of international terrorism. On Sept. 17 Pres. Mubarak implored the US not to undertake military action that might kill innocent civilians, divide Christians against Muslims and further inflame attitudes against US policy in the region. He urged that "hard evidence" be the basis for any military action and that "countries not be punished" for the actions of individuals. He called on the UN to organise an international convention against terrorism that would develop a common programme of action for all countries.

On Sept. 18 Mubarak hosted Arafat and Jordanian King Abdullah in Sharm Al Shaikh. He also met Syrian Pres. Bashar Al Assad and Omani Sultan Qaboos. Meanwhile, Saudi FM Saud Al Faisal and Kuwaiti FM Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah are to hold talks this week with US officials. The conference idea appears partly to be an attempt to escape the issue of joining a military coalition in which Israel might be a member. It could also allow Arab states to define what they consider to be terrorist acts. Syria, for example, will insist on maintaining a distinction between terrorist groups and Lebanese and Palestinian movements resisting Israeli occupation. Arab officials also fear that the fight against terrorism could lead to US attacks on Arab countries, particularly Iraq. On Sept. 16, US Secretary of State Powell said no link had been found between the Iraqi government and the attacks. But the CIA is believed to be looking into reports that one of the hijackers, Mohammad Atta, had met senior Iraqi intelligence officials in Europe. Geoffrey Kemp, director of regional strategic programmes at the Nixon Centre in Washington, said: "Afghanistan is the easiest country to build a coalition against, but if the investigation were to demonstrate links between Iraq and Bin Ladin, there's a coalition in Washington that would say we've got to do something about Iraq - but even the support of Saudi Arabia in this case becomes a problem". An unidentified Arab official said there was no indication that the US was planning to strike against Baghdad. He added: "They understand that if they hit anyone in the Arab world, it will be difficult to have the Arab support to uncover the networks and the financial resources of terrorists").