Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said last night his country opposed war on Iraq and would not participate in any possible US strike against Iraq.
Wrapping up a two-day visit to Algeria dominated by talks on a possible US war against Iraq, Prince al-Faisal appeared to indicate Saudi Arabia had altered its position toward Washington's drive against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
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"We reject entering into a war against Iraq," he told a news conference.
"I had never said that Saudi Arabia agrees to allow the use of its territory to strike Iraq," he replied to a question on whether Saudi Arabia would let the United States use its territories as a base for strikes on Iraq.
He said if the Security Council issued a new resolution under "article seven of the UN charter," every country had to co-operate accordingly.
"But this resolution would not force every state to participate in the war and open its sky and land for use [in that war]," Prince al-Faisal said.
The prince said his country would focus on diplomatic efforts to ward off a US strike against Iraq.