Gulf and Iraqi newspapers voiced dismay today at United Nations (UN) chief Mr Kofi Annan's decision to scrap a fact-finding mission to the Jenin refugee camp while insisting on Iraqi compliance with UN demands.
"The UN secretary general readily admitted that he disbanded the Jenin mission because of Israel's procrastination, ignoring that Iraq too objects to UN experts who want to search even Iraqi bedrooms [for prohibited weapons]," wrote Al-Bayanof the United Arab Emirates.
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"Under the American scenario, the weak have to pay the price of their weakness and submissiveness," the paper said in a reference to Arab states. "Will silence shield the Arabs from getting their share of American and Israeli terrorism?"
Al-Bayan
asked.
In Baghdad, the daily Ath-Thawradenounced the "double standard" applied by the United Nations.
"The UN Security Council is powerless in face of US protection of the Zionist entity (Israel)," said the mouthpiece of Iraq's ruling Baath Party. "This is a flagrantly unfair, double-standard policy," the paper said, noting the contrast between the scrapping of the Jenin mission and the UN's insistence on maintaining sanctions on Iraq.
Abu Dhabi-based Al-Ittihadsaid Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon had "proved to the whole world that he is unfit to conclude a just and comprehensive peace with the Palestinians."
But "the bloodthirsty general . . . will not be able to liquidate the Palestinian people's legitimate leadership," the paper said.
Al-Khaleej, a United Arab Emirates daily, accused the United States of "hatching plots and blocking any inquiry into (Israeli) war crimes".
AFP