Iraq's neighbors urge US pullout, formation of Iraqi government

RIYADH (AFP) Apr 19, 2003
Foreign ministers of countries bordering Iraq plus Egypt and Bahrain called Saturday for US and British forces to pull out of Iraq and for the early formation of a representative government in Baghdad.

Iraq's neighbors "underline the obligation of the occupying powers under the Fourth Geneva Convention to ... withdraw from Iraq and allow the Iraqis to exercise their right to self-determination," they said in a joint declaration read by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.

The declaration, issued after a meeting in Riyadh that started Friday and went on into the early hours of Saturday, said the Iraqi people should administer their country themselves and voiced hope of seeing a representative Iraqi government in place.

The meeting was attended by the chief diplomats of host Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Turkey and Syria, all neighbors of Iraq, in addition to Egypt and current Arab League chair Bahrain.

SPACE.WIRE