September 16, 2002	Monday	Rajab 8, 1423

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DUBAI, Sept 15: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said on Sunday that Riyadh would cooperate in a US-led attack on Iraq if the United Nations Security Council gives the green light.

The Saudis have said in the past they would not allow their territory to be used in the case of an attack mounted by Washington.

“If the United Nations takes a decision, by the Security Council, to implement a policy of the UN, every country that has signed the charter of the UN has to fulfil it,” Prince Saud said in an interview with CNN.

“A decision of the Security Council under Chapter Seven (of the charter) is binding on every member country” of the UN.

Prince Saud was optimistic that the deadlock with Iraq over the return of UN arms inspectors could be resolved, hailing US President George W. Bush’s decision to push for action against Baghdad by the UN first instead of going it alone.

“I think we are moving in the right direction,” he said.

The Saudi minister also said Riyadh would work to keep oil prices stable in case of a clash with Iraq.

“We will do everything we can to try to keep the balance,” he said, and would also work to ensure other members of the OPEC oil-producing cartel did the same.—AFP