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Saudi Arabia agrees to aid U.S. coalition, Iran refuses

Khamenei makes an anniversary speech
Khamenei accused the U.S. of being "arrogant"  


RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (CNN) -- Saying it is "a duty" to fight terrorism, Saudi Arabia Wednesday agreed to join a U.S.-led coalition against international terror networks.

The Saudis made their commitment after a European Union delegation led by Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel met with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah.

"It is the duty of all of us to stand against the perpetrators of those abhorrent acts ... in the United States," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told reporters.

The EU delegation's mission was to impress upon the Saudis and other Arab nations that the battle against terror is not a fight against Islam or the Arab world. Javier Solana, EU international policy chief, has said the EU is seeking instead to engender a cooperative relationship with the Muslim world, particularly to share intelligence.

Saudi leaders were quick to commend the new spirit of cooperation the coalition represents in response to the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, which claimed thousands of lives.

"This calls for a new perception of cooperation within the international community, a perception that allows us to work together, Muslims and Christians ... in the fight against this scourge," Faisal said.

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Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Afghanistan on Tuesday, saying the Taliban regime had ignored the kingdom's warnings that they should stop harboring "criminals and terrorists."

The EU delegation will next visit Egypt, Syria and Jordan.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, speaking after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington, reiterated Egypt's commitment to the coalition.

"We have suffered from terrorism, and it is only normal that we should join any attempt to get rid of this scourge from which the world has suffered. And we believe that the United States, as the government of a country that believes in law and justice, will act on the basis of a good case against the culprits who committed this horrible crime," Maher said.

Earlier in the week, EU delegates met with Iran's President Mohammed Khatami, who turned down the opportunity to join the coalition.

Khatami had tried to build his own consensus with Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Egypt to garner support for a United Nations-led campaign against terrorism.

In addition, Iran's conservative spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dealt a blow Wednesday to U.S. plans for global unity in its so-called war against terror. Khamenei lambasted the United States for what he called its "arrogance" and "bullying" in the crisis over terrorism.

"America does not have the competence to guide a global movement against terrorism, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will not participate in any move which is headed by the United States," Khamenei said.

Iran had condemned the suicide attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, raising hopes among some in the international community that Tehran might take part in a U.S.-led anti-terror coalition despite more than 20 years of hostility.

The UK's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw had been the first high-ranking British official to visit Tehran since 1979 in an effort to bring Iran on board.

He was followed by a high-level EU delegation, which arrived on Wednesday to press home the message that the campaign would not be against Islam.

But in a speech to the families of those killed or injured in Iran's war with Iraq in the 1980s, Khamenei asked: "How dare you ask for our assistance when you have been dealing blow after blow against Iran for the past 23 years?"

Many in the crowd shouted "Death to America" to show their approval for his statements.

Khamenei criticized U.S. President George W. Bush for saying nations are either with the U.S. or with the militants.

He said those statements smack of arrogance and an imperialistic attitude, adding "Iran is neither with you or with the terrorists."

He also criticized Bush for using the world "crusade," which harks back to Christian crusades against Muslims in the Middle Ages.

Khamenei, who is a hardliner and final arbiter on issues facing Iran, accused the U.S. of plotting to increase its military presence in the region, and to "deal with those who have supported the people of Palestine in their struggle against Israel."

His comments put an end to any hopes raised after a joint news conference earlier on Wednesday between Solana and Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi.

They had told reporters that Tehran will share information and intelligence as part of its obligations under the international agreements and conventions against terrorism, to which Iran is already a signatory under the auspices of the United Nations.

One of the stumbling blocks between Iran and the West is the divide between the two sides over the definition of terrorism.

Iran regards organizations on the West Bank and southern Lebanon, fighting what they call Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, as national liberation movements, while the EU regards them as terrorist groups.

Straw was later due to meet Palestinian Cabinet minister Dr Hanan Ashrawi before flying to Cairo for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.



 
 
 
 


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