Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said on Tuesday that the pan-Arab forum rejects attacks on any Arab country, following the U.S.-British air strikes on Afghanistan.
Moussa made the remarks in a statement, released to the press, after the U.S. warned that it might extend its war against terrorism beyond the borders of Afghanistan.
"The Arab stance is clear, that is we reject strike against any Arab country," Moussa said.
He said that there must be consultations, necessary diplomatic and legal measures before anyone or any organization will be accused of conducting or sponsoring terrorism.
The U.S. and Britain launched retaliatory air raids Sunday night against the Afghan ruling Taliban militia for harboring Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect of the September 11 terror attacks in New York and Washington.
"I call for restraint and no widening of the confrontation, as well as no harm to any Arab country," Moussa said on Monday in his first reaction to the U.S.-British strikes against Afghanistan, while stressing that "no Arab country can accept international terrorism."
Moussa said last month that Arab countries support the U.S. in its efforts to combat terrorism, but also expressed reservations over military strikes against countries suspected of backing terrorism, such as Afghanistan.
( Xinhua News Agency 10/10/2001)
