|
Saudi Arabia encouraging Iraqi generals to topple Saddam
Arab leaders are planning a coup to oust Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, reported Time magazine. Saudi Arabia is reported to be behind the plot which proposes encouraging Iraqi generals to topple Saddam and his inner circle. The aim is to avoid a United States-led war with Iraq which could spark other wars in the region. The aim is to prevent the U.S. from establishing a reasonably democratic non-Islamic Iraq next door. Might give the locals ideas that the same thing would work in Saudi itself. The Saudi idea requires a United Nations resolution declaring an amnesty for the Iraqi officials if they got rid of Saddam, Western and diplomatic sources were quoted as saying. Such an amnesty would extend to all but 100 or 120 of the most senior ruling Baath Party officials, including his sons, close relatives and others who have long formed part of the ruling circle. Who are the only people with the power to overthrow Saddam. Saudi Arabia is reported to be actively canvassing support for the initiative. Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and the Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul flew to Riyadh this week to discuss the plan with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the magazine said. According to Time, concerns for the region's stability prompted the Saudi initiative. "Riyadh fears that war in Iraq could lead to chaos, civil war among ethnic factions and military incursions by neighbours like Turkey and Iran," said the magazine. Riyadh fears that they are next on Bush's short list. Posted by: Steve 2003-01-17 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=9333 |