Saudi Arabia said today it wanted proof from the United Nations that Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction before deciding whether to back a US-led war on its neighbour.
Saudi Arabia was the launch pad for the 1991 Gulf War that ended Iraq's occupation of Kuwait. But Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said Riyadh wanted to avoid conflict and would seek a peaceful outcome even if the UN sanctioned war.
The Saudis have been vague about whether Washington can use their airspace and bases to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein; this is their clearest statement yet.
US-Saudi ties have been strained over a perceived US bias towards Israel and the suicide hijacker attacks on September 11th, 2001. Most of the hijackers were Saudis.
A US air campaign against Iraq would be difficult, but not impossible, without access to Saudi bases. The United States has turned to Qatar, another regional ally, and poured $1.4 billion into expanding bases there.