September 6, 2003	Saturday	Rajab 8, 1424

RIYADH, Sept 5: Pro-US Gulf Arab states do not plan to send troops to Iraq to help maintain security in the country, the head of an alliance of Gulf states said in remarks published on Friday.

The United States has drafted a new U.N. resolution aimed at getting more countries to contribute soldiers and cash to its occupation.

The secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said the issue of sending troops from Gulf states was not under discussion.

“There is no intention to send troops,” Abdul Rahman al Attiyah told Saudi Arabia’s Al Riyadh newspaper.

He gave no reason for this, but the Gulf states are known to be worried about domestic opposition to Washington’s continued occupation of Iraq.

While many of the states opposed the invasion of Iraq, many were also launchpads for the invasion.

Newly appointed Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has said he and his fellow ministers would not welcome troops from neighbouring countries because they might meddle in Iraq’s affairs.

Mr Attiyah welcomed the newly formed Iraqi cabinet which he said would help Iraqis re-establish security in the country and safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

—Reuters