US seeks clarification over King's remarks

Washington, Mar 30: The United States government has asked Saudi Arabia to clarify on its King remarks at the Arab League summit, describing the US role in Iraq as ''illegal foreign occupation.'' Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee appearance yesterday, said the United States was ''a little surprised'' to see the remarks.

State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said there was no reason to believe King Abdullah had been misquoted in the comments he made on March 28 and added the US interest in an explanation was understandable.

Defending the US role, he said, ''We are operating under (United Nations) Security Council resolutions in Iraq, as well as with the invitation of the Iraqi government.'' Mr McCormack said the United States and Saudi Arabia had a shared interest in an Iraq that maintained its territorial integrity and stability. One indication of Saudi support for the shared interest in Iraq was its participation in the recent 'neighbours conference' in Baghdad, in which Iran also took part.

He termed as excellent the personal relationship between King Abdullah and President Bush and said the overall ties between the two countries were ''good and sound.'' Meanwhile, the United States has welcomed the Arab initiative, offering Israel recognition and permanent peace in exchange for a withdrawal from territory captured in 1967 and a resolution to the issue of Palestinian refugees, as ''very positive.'' Mr McCormack said the initiative was ''an effort to reach out, to be constructive on an issue of interest to all the countries in the region and we are encouraged by this development and we certainly welcome it.'' He urged the Arab League to use the initiative, first proposed by King Abdullah as ''a basis for active diplomacy.'' The initiative calls for open direct negotiations between Arab countries and Israel. Israel has said it could accept the offer with some changes, mainly due to its opposition to a full withdrawal from the West Bank and east Jerusalem, as well as concern about an influx of a large number of Palestinian refugees inside its borders.

UNI

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