Arab leaders said they reject a war on Iraq and U.S. threats to remove Saddam Hussein, but their message Saturday was undermined by exchanges of insults and sharp divisions at a summit aimed at finding unity over the Iraq crisis. Near the close of the one-day summit, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah angrily insulted each other. Live broadcast of the session halted soon after, and other leaders had to convince Prince Abdullah not to quit the meeting, diplomats said.

A final statement issued after the summit's close expressed "complete rejection of any aggression on Iraq" and urged more time for inspections.

It said Arab countries should refrain from carrying out any military action against Iraq.

Leaders had come into the 22-member Arab League summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik already deeply split.

War Inevitable

Some countries — particularly in the Gulf — argue war is inevitable and say the region should be planning for the aftermath. A second camp, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, insist war can be avoided if Iraq cooperates fully with U.N. weapons inspectors. A third camp — led by Syria — wanted the summit to make an unequivocal anti-war declaration.

The final statement made no mention of ideas floated before the session for sending a delegation to Baghdad to deliver a message to Saddam — either vaguely suggesting he quit or pressing him to cooperate with inspectors.

Arab Committee to Explain Arab Position to UN

Instead, the statement said Arab leaders agreed to form a committee to "explain the Arab position" to the United Nations and to consult with Iraq. It said U.N. weapons inspectors should be given enough time to carry out their mission.

The communique added political change in the Arab world "is a matter to be decided by the people of the region according to national interests, away from outside interference."

UAE Proposes Saddam Exile

Highlighting the splits, the United Arab Emirates became the first Arab nation to propose publicly that Saddam step down to avert a war. Other leaders refused to discuss the idea.

UAE President Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan proposed that Arab states press Saddam and his leadership to give up power in exchange for immunity from prosecution. He proposed Iraq be governed by the Arab League and the United Nations until it could return to "its normal situation."

Iraqi delegates in a closed session of the summit reacted angrily to the proposal, diplomats said. In New York, Iraq's U.N. ambassador, Mohammed Al-Douri, dismissed the UAE proposal as "silly."

Some Arab officials have privately supported the idea of pushing Saddam into exile. But league leaders had said the summit would not take up the idea, citing league rules barring interference in members' domestic affairs.

During an open session, Izzat Ibrahim, Saddam's top deputy, ignored the proposal and accused the United States of wanting to destroy and colonize the Arab world.

Iraq Content with Final Declaration

The Iraqi delegation appeared content with the final declaration. Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri said the communique showed strong political support for Iraq.

A U.S. ally, Sheik Zayed issued his proposal one day after White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the only way for Iraq to avoid war is "disarmament and regime change." Sheik Zayed, in his 80s and in poor health, did not attend the summit but sent his vice president with a letter with the proposal.

We’re All Targeted Says Syria’s Assad

In contrast, Syrian President Bashar Assad, during the summit's opening session, accused the United States of seeking to secure Iraq's "oil and redraw the region's map and destroy Iraq's infrastructure."

"We are all targeted ... we are all in danger," Assad said.

Main Points of Arab Final Statement

* Arab leaders registered "complete rejection to any aggression on Iraq or threatening the security of any Arab country," which they consider "a threat to Arab national security" and reiterate "the necessity of resolving the Iraqi issue through peaceful ways."

*_ Called for giving weapons inspectors enough time to carry out their mission and called on inspectors to use objectivity in their work.

*_ Called on Arab countries to refrain from "participating in any military action that targets the security, safety and unity of Iraq or any other Arab country."

*_ Called for countries to support Arab endeavors to avert war through Iraq's continuing implementation of U.N. Resolution 1141.

*_ Set up a committee, headed by Bahrain, "to carry out contacts with concerned international parties" — including Iraq, the United Nations and the permanent members of Security Council — "to explain the Arab position ... and to discuss ways to face the serious challenges Iraq faces and the possibilities and dangers threatening Arab states."

*_ Stressed support for the Iraqi people "who have suffered for years," saying it is time to lift the sanctions.

*_ Stressed the responsibility of the Security Council in ensuring that Iraq and its people be spared.

*_ Denounced U.S. attempts to force change in the region, specifically a call for a new leader in Iraq, saying change in the Arab world "is a matter to be decided by the people of the region according to national interests, away from outside interference."

*_ Called for Israel to be disarmed of weapons of mass destruction, saying Iraq's disarmament is part of ridding the region of such weapons in compliance with U.N. resolutions.

PHOTO CAPTION

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, right, accompanies Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Abdullah after he clashed with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi during an afternoon summit session of the the 15th annual Arab summit at Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, Saturday, March 1, 2003. (AP Photo)
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