A rift has opened between London and Washington regarding demands by British Prime Minister, Tony Blair for the Bush administration to revive Middle East peace talks before an attack on Iraq. The Washington Times reported on Monday that Blair is privately urging Bush to call Arab-Israeli peace talks before any military action against Iraq, but the White House is resisting.
"The Washington argument is: You can deal with Iraq in a separate box. That is not the London position," said a senior British Foreign Ministry official. "It doesn't mean you cannot do anything until there is a settlement in the Middle East, but you have got to make progress. "We want the Americans to say they are going to fix it in the Middle East. They are capable of doing it, even with [Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon, but they are not doing so," the report said.
The British prime minister's office is arguing that the talks are essential to placate moderate Arab opinion in the buildup of military and diplomatic pressure on Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
