CAIRO, Sept 4: Top Arab diplomats called here on Wednesday for rapid action and a “clear signal” from their meeting to avert a US invasion of Iraq, urging fresh talks on the return of UN arms inspectors to Baghdad.

“We insist on deploying quick efforts to avoid a strike and to find a solution through dialogue with the United Nations,” Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa said at the opening of a two-day meeting of the ministers.

Such a dialogue would be aimed at getting Iraq to readmit arms inspectors who fled four years ago, and eventually at lifting 12 years of UN trade sanctions and ensuring Iraq remains whole, he added.

The Arabs have expressed fears that Iraq might break apart, spreading instability to nearby Gulf countries.

Mussa was echoing remarks from the opening speech by Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hamoud, the meeting chairman, who said “any aggression, any threat against any Arab state is a threat to all Arab states.

“And we have to take a clear and strong Arab position, and send a clear and united message in this regard,” Hamoud said.

Some delegates said Iraq could only hope to avoid an attack by readmitting UN weapons inspectors.

While six Gulf Arab states — traditionally considered close US allies — rejected a US strike against Iraq during a meeting on Tuesday, they also urged Baghdad to readmit UN weapons inspectors to ward off an attack.—AFP