Maher has been in close contact with his Moroccan counterpart Mohammed Benaissa and Arab League secretary general Amr Mussa over the possibility of Arab foreign ministers calling for such a meeting.

"We have to pursue our efforts as the situation is very serious and and the Iraqi people is being subjected to bombardments and death every day," Maher said.

In New York, US ambassador to the United Nations John Negroponte said he saw no need for a General Assembly session on Iraq.

"We do not think that it is either necessary or desirable," he said.

The five permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- cannot exercise their veto right on the General Assembly, which comprises all 191 UN members.

Negroponte said there would be ample opportunity for the Council to discuss Iraq in April, when humanitarian aid would be the main issue.

Arab foreign ministers decided on March 24 to call for a General Assembly if the Security Council failed to call for an end to the US-led war on Iraq.

SPACE.WIRE