Arab League chief calls for ceasefire in Iraq

[maddezmom]

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AFP) - Arab League chief Amr Mussa called for a ceasefire in Iraq (news - web sites) and the holding of a national reconciliation conference before the country's planned January elections.


In a speech to delegates at an international conference on Iraq in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the secretary general called for a "ceasefire in Fallujah and the other hotspots" around the country.


With the US-backed interim government in Iraq having pledged to retake control of Sunni rebel cities before elections on January 30, the US military on November 8 mounted an offensive on the city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=4&u=/afp/20041123/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_conference_arab_mussa_041123125631


No postponement of Iraqi elections: Zebari


SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AFP) - Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said elections will be held on time in his country on January 30 "whatever the situation".


"There will be no postponement of the elections which will take place in January at the date set. Whatever the situation," Zebari told AFP on Tuesday, at the end of an international conference on Iraq (news - web sites) in Egypt.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=5&u=/afp/20041123/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_conference_zebari_041123130035

[UL_Approved]

1. The U.S. is getting pressure

This is good. This is really good. Maybe the U.S. will get some limits placed on it yet. It's good to see the world taking a stand against the shenanigans.

[0007]

2. Perhaps if the U.S. left Iraq things might calm down.

It appears that the shenanigans are in the White House and are the big problem in Iraq.

Amr Mussa & Sharm el-Sheikh could be Negroponte's trolls?

[UL_Approved]

3. There is no insurgency,

only patriots and resistance fighters. We are the conquerers, not the liberators.

[leftchick]

4. I guess they haven't heard about the New Offensive...

Named 'Whack-a-mole II'... or III or IV or ....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1015559

[theHandpuppet]

5. And this will be the sum total of their outrage

The Arab League is a joke unless they happen to be playing games with the price of oil. Their protest is only for show, as usual. If only the Arab League alliance would put REAL pressure to bear there would be a cease fire tomorrow. But they don't want to rock the boat too much lest some of the billions fall from the bow and the U.S. turn an eye towards their borders. Little wonder the people in the ME turn to their faith to unite them. Their leaders are but self-serving billionaire monarchists and despots. Rather like here at home, isn't it.

[maddezmom]

6. Jordan disagrees with Zebari, link updated

But Jordan's Foreign Minister Hani Mulki said circumstances could force a delay.


"The neighours of Iraq will meet early January in Amman to review the situation and the results of the meeting of the interior ministers in Iran," he said, referring to a November 30 session to be hosted by Tehran.


"If the process is not ready by the 30th of January, there will be no other alterative but to postpone them (the polls) a few weeks or a month," he said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1515&ncid=1515&e=5&u=/afp/20041123/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_conference_vote_041123144544