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Anger mounts in Arab world
JORDAN/IRAQ BORDER -- Anger and frustration is surging in the Arab world over the U.S.-led attacks on Iraq which are seen as an illegal invasion of a neighboring nation. In Cairo, the Arab world's biggest capital city, thousands took to the streets, protesting against the war and the fact that U.S. troops are on Arab soil. The crowd headed for the U.S. embassy in Cairo but were beaten back by water cannons and by riot police wielding batons. The protestors called on the government to expel the U.S. ambassador and demanded the President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak stand down. The anger on the streets is not just about supporting Saddam Hussein or the Iraqi regime, the main concern is for Iraqi civilians, who protestors say have suffered enough under 12 years of United Nations sanctions. "This war is a sin," a 43-year-old Cairo taxi driver called Youssef, told Reuters. "It's a sin because ordinary Iraqis will suffer. It's not a sin because of Saddam, who was too stubborn. He's got a head of stone." Another protestor, a 33-year-old doctor called Moataz, said Egyptian hearts were with the Iraqi people. "Saddam is a dictator, but (U.S. President George W.) Bush is also a dictator," he said. Other protestors question the need for a war to disarm Iraq, pointing to the fact that Israel also has weapons of mass destruction. Not only is there skepticism about the U.S. motives, there is also concern about the ramifications of war. Arab officials as well as analysts believe the war may lead to a radicalization of the region. King Abdullah of Jordan said recently the picture of U.S. troops in Iraq is perceived as an occupation, in the same way an Israeli tank in the West Bank or Gaza is. But the opposition to the war is not total. In Kuwait, which was liberated from Iraqi occupation in 1991 by a U.S.-led coalition, some citizens are markedly more supportive of Washington, Reuters reports. "Bush is a real man," Ahmad Hussein Ahmad said. "His dad (former-President George Bush) liberated Kuwait and now the son will liberate Iraq." Wafaa, a government employee in long-term U.S. ally Saudi Arabia, said: "I support the war if it is against the Iraqi government and doesn't hurt the Iraqi people."
At the top political levels, Arab governments have mainly condemned the beginning of hostilities and expressed a desire for a speedy resolution. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal reiterated his government's position that it would not take part in a war against "brotherly" Iraq. In a statement to the official Saudi Press Agency, Prince Saud expressed "grave concern and deep regret" over the war. He hoped "military operations end as soon as possible and that there be a return to the language of peace efforts." Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said the war would force the world into a "dark tunnel" that would be hard to escape. Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, whose country hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, said: "The war could be won by one party, but peace should be achieved for all, and this is the responsibility of all states," Reuters reported. In North Africa, Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali said he regretted the outbreak of war and was worried about its "disastrous consequences" for Iraq and the entire Middle East. Morocco's King Mohammed called for respect for international law and appealed to Moroccans to show restraint. Palestinian fearsAlgeria's ruling National Liberation Front called the war a breach of international law which set a dangerous precedent. Amr Moussa, the head of the 22-member Arab League, said it was a "mournful day," and called for fast international and Arab action to halt the war. The Jeddah-based 56-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference also called for an end to the attack, saying it could only lead to bloodshed, ruin, instability and global terrorism, Reuters reported. Palestinian minister Saeb Erekat said he feared Israel might exploit the war and increase a crackdown against a Palestinian uprising while world attention was diverted. Abdel-Aziz al-Rantisi, a leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, said the war was an "ugly aggression" against Arabs and Muslims, and called for "jihad" to expel American forces. -- CNN Correspondent Rula Amin contributed to this report
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