Arab News has learned that a new initiative at the summit is likely to call for the formation of a national unity government with Saddam Hussein as its figurehead. Political analyst Nasser Al-Majali said from London that the initiative involves Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, and the unity government will have representatives from all groups who make up Iraqi society.

The Kingdom’s ambassador to Britain yesterday told BBC that Saudi Arabia will not support a US-led war in Iraq in the absence of a second United Nations resolution explicitly permitting the use of force.

Prince Turki Al-Faisal said that even with a second UN resolution, Arab countries will try to talk Saddam Hussein into reason. He said once any war is over, Saudi Arabia will open talks on US troop withdrawal.

“If there is no longer any need for a no-fly zone in southern Iraq, then the discussions would take place between us and the US about the removal of those forces from the kingdom,” he said.

In the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, Arab foreign ministers held informal consultations. “It is of extreme importance to take a unified position,” Arab League chief Amr Moussa said.

Iraqi Trade Minister Mohammed Mehdi Saleh said: “We will make Iraq a grave for anyone who enters it.”