RIYADH, July 15: In the face of an increasing possibility of a US attack on Iraq, the Arab world is trying to put up a united front in opposing any such adventure.

The 22-member Arab League’s Secretary General, Mr Amr Moussa, has made it clear to the US that all the 22 members of his organization were opposed to any strike on Iraq.

“The Arab League is a gathering of Arab countries and our position is clear, we cannot back any attack on Iraq or on any other Arab country,” Moussa said after meeting Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb.

Qatar, whose Al-Udeid airbase is being readied for an eventual attack on Iraq, also says that its policy is not to allow the use of its soil for attacks against any fellow Muslim or Arab country.

“Iraq is an Arab state with which the people of Qatar share a common history and cultural bonds. There could be a popular backlash if Qatari soil is used by the US for the destruction of Iraq,” a Qatari official was quoted here as saying.

Qatari officials say Doha has not yet received a request from the United States to use its territory. “But if and when it comes, it will be a very critical moment for the leadership to accept or reject the request,” the official added.

Qatari officials say their country’s decision to allow the US forces to use the Al-Udeid airbase would depend on the position adopted by its partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Authorities in Jordan are vehemently denying a stream of press reports suggesting the Hashemite kingdom could be used as a launching pad for US attacks on Iraq.

Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb has denied that US troops were deployed in Jordan. “Reports suggesting that Jordanian territory and airspace could be used to carry out a military strike on Iraq are totally untrue”.

The Jordanian foreign minister said “the United States has not asked Jordan to use its territory or its airspace to strike Iraq”.

Earlier last week, the Iraqi ambassador in Amman was summoned at the foreign ministry to reaffirm “Jordan’s rejection of the use of force against Baghdad and its concern to preserve the territorial integrity, security and stability of Iraq”.