The call "for putting an end to the war on Iraq" came during the weekly meeting of the Saudi cabinet chaired by King Fahd, the official SPA news agency reported.

"The government of Saudi Arabia draws attention to the need of providing protection to innocent civilians and avoiding the loss of life," the cabinet said in a statement.

"Baghdad, the city of peace, has a special status in Arab and Islamic history that must be taken into account. The city's places of historical and civilisation significance must be preserved," it added.

The Saudi cabinet also called on the international community, through the United Nations, to "take a positive and effective step to guarantee the future of Iraq, the unity of its land and the safety of its people".

SPACE.WIRE