"It is of utmost importance that all brotherly Arab countries, the Arab league and its affiliates help guarantee the territorial integrity of Iraq, its independence and reconstruction so that its people can control their own lives," it added.

It said the United Nations should not only confine itself to a humanitarian role but also ensure the "protection of the Iraqi national destiny and that of its people and prevent that any other party take control of or divide the nation."

The PLO stressed its solidarity with the Iraqi people whose cause "exemplifies the struggle for freedom, progress and construction in every Arab country."

"Iraq has repeatedly been crushed and prevented to act beyond its borders by various parties," it also said, without elaborating.

The PLO and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah party have consistently supported Saddam Hussein's regime, including when it invaded Kuwait in late 1990, a move which lead to the 1991 Gulf war.

Palestinians at large have demonstrated against the US-led war that began March 20.

The statement was released in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the PLO executive committee is meeting with Fatah's central committee to discuss the future Palestinian government expected to be announced by newly-appointed prime minister Mahmud Abbas within two weeks.

SPACE.WIRE