The Arab League unanimously granted the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council a seat on the pan-Arab body early Tuesday.
The decision ended weeks of debate within the 22-member League over whether to recognize Iraq's interim authority, with opponents fearing that approval could be considered as a sign of support for the US occupation.
"That's good," James Cunningham, Bush's deputy U.N. ambassador, said of the decision. "That's a positive step."
According to the AP, a State Department spokeswoman said the United States hadn't been officially notified of the development, but said it would be welcome. She said U.S. officials will follow up with the Arab League Tuesday on details of the step.
Arab League foreign ministers issued a communique after six hours of discussions saying the Governing Council had been granted a seat until an Iraqi government is formed and a new constitution drawn up.
"This decision was agreed upon unanimously," the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher told reporters following the meeting.
The decision paves the way for Hoshyar Zebari, the Iraqi Kurdish leader appointed foreign minister when the Council's first Cabinet was named Sept. 1, to sit alongside Arab envoys when a two-day foreign ministerial conference starts later on Tuesday. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
