Arab foreign ministers began a two-day meeting of the Arab League in Cairo Wednesday expected to focus on U.S. threats to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and Israeli-Palestinian violence. About 20 foreign ministers from the League's 22 member states -- including Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri -- were attending the regular twice-yearly meeting, which usually attracts a lower turnout.

The talks had been scheduled for a long time, but rising regional tensions have given them more weight than usual, diplomats said. For the first time, the Arab League invited a representative of Arab Americans to attend the meeting.

The League has said that all Arab states opposed U.S. military action against Iraq, which Washington says is developing weapons of mass destruction.

Iraq says its chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs have already been destroyed.

"Arab countries don't think the American demands are legitimate. They don't serve America or any other country. They only serve the Zionist entity," Sabri told reporters after the opening session.

"This is the logic of tyranny, the logic that harms and goes beyond the will of the international community," he said.

One Arab League official said the ministers could, however, call on Iraq to readmit U.N. weapons inspectors as part of efforts to avert a military strike.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher told reporters that Iraq accepted the return of inspectors in principle, but wanted assurances on "the circumstances in which observers will be admitted."

A Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation, which erupted in September 2000, and this week's collapse of peace talks between the Sudanese government and southern rebels will also be discussed, analysts said.

PHOTO CAPTION

Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri (R) talks to a member of his delegation before the start of an Arab Foreign Ministers meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo September 4, 2002. The ministers began a two-day meeting expected to focus on U.S. threats to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and Israeli-Palestinian violence. (Aladin Abdel Naby/Re