By Rasha Saad At an extraordinary session on Monday, members unanimously denounced the US raid on a pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum as "a flagrant violation of international law". A statement issued by the League following the two-hour meeting also condemned the attack as an "aggression against Sudan and a grave violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity". The League's council urged "the United States, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and as a superpower, to show respect for international legality and refrain from actions which constitute an aggression against the sovereignty of other states." Esmat Abdel-Meguid, the League's secretary-general, told reporters that the League and Sudan were demanding an investigation into American allegations that the bombed factory produced ingredients for chemical weapons. "We call on the United Nations to send a fact-finding mission to investigate whether this factory produced chemicals or not," he said. In its statement, the League declared "support for Sudan against all threats to its sovereignty and territorial integrity" and vowed to back it at international gatherings. Sudan, which currently holds the League's rotating presidency, had requested the emergency meeting to seek Arab support in its row with the US. The meeting took place a few hours before the UN Security Council held informal consultations following a complaint lodged by the Sudanese government. The unanimous position by the League's 22 members was significant in view of the fact that not all Arab governments had issued separate statements of condemnation. Although anti-American demonstrations were staged in some parts of the Arab world, Arab governments which enjoy friendly relations with the US either remained silent or made comments that were critical by implication only. Those whose relations with the US are strained were vigorous in their condemnation. Libya, Iraq, and Syria denounced the attack and expressed solidarity with Sudan and Afghanistan. Anti-American demonstrations took place in Sudan, the West Bank, Lebanon and Libya. In Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, supported by crutches following a hip operation, led the demonstrators in person following last Friday's noon prayers. Iraq's ruling Revolutionary Command Council condemned the strikes and said, "the military aggression on Sudan and Afghanistan is unjustifiable. It claimed the lives of innocent civilians and caused material damage to two developing nations." The Iraqi newspaper Babel, which is run by President Saddam Hussein's son, Uday, expressed apprehension that Baghdad might be the next target of US military strikes. The newspaper, reflecting the view of many Arabs and Muslims, said that "Bill Clinton... is attacking the Arabs and Muslims to divert attention from his sexual scandals." In many editorials in the Arab press, the US was accused of "violating international law." Arab newspapers also expressed misgivings about the availability of irrefutable evidence that Sudan and Afghanistan were involved in the bombing of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. "How could they be convinced of the two countries' involvement when the investigation has not been completed?" a leading columnist wrote in the London-based newspaper Al-Hayat. The Federation of Arab Journalists said the strikes ran "counter to international law and the UN charter". The Federation condemned all types of terrorism, but said that combatting terrorism should be made through international coordination. The Federation described the US attacks as a new form of terrorism. "If a country was given the right to assault other countries under the pretext of combatting terrorism, then a new form of terrorism would emerge," a statement by the Federation said. In Yemen, President Ali Abdallah Saleh condemned the bombing of the US embassies as well as the US attack on Sudan. He said that "Yemen will cooperate with all international efforts aimed at fighting all forms of terrorism." He added that he deplored the destruction of the pharmaceutical factory in "brotherly Sudan". Yemen was accused in the past of providing refuge to Islamist militants, including those who fought in the war against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia said it was "aware of the motives behind the measures that were taken to strike at terrorist bases". But it expressed concern for "the complications that might result" and affirmed that the situation must be addressed through the mechanisms of the United Nations. A Saudi newspaper went as far as to urge Clinton to resign. Fearing retaliatory action, the US Embassy in Riyadh advised 40,000 American residents to exercise "greater caution than usual". Security measures at the embassy were stepped up following the 7 August bombing of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Statements by other Gulf countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar, focused on the necessity of dialogue and UN action as a means of countering terrorism. In Kuwait, the US Embassy closed its consular section and stepped up security precautions. Jordan, a key ally of the US in the Middle East, branded the US raid on Khartoum as "unreasonable". Jordanian Information Minister Nasser Judeh said that Jordan called for dialogue, not force, to solve the region's problems. Syria denounced the attacks against Sudan and Afghanistan, saying they would lead to reprisals. A Syrian official said on Saturday that "resorting to force in international relations, outside the context of the UN Security Council, sets a dangerous precedent and opens the door for acts of revenge." A Lebanese government source said that "the US president had to do something to cover up his sexual affair with Monica Lewinsky." The Hizbullah group in southern Lebanon denounced the US attacks. Hizbullah's spiritual mentor, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, warned that "violence will only bring more violence". A spokesman for the group said Hizbullah condemned the attacks against the US embassies in Africa, but it also opposed the latest "US aggression [because] it is worse and harsher than the acts of the terrorist groups". Occupied Palestinian territories witnessed a series of demonstrations against the US strikes. At least 1,000 Hamas supporters demonstrated following last Friday's noon prayers in the West Bank town of Nablus and burned the American flag. On Sunday, around 200 Palestinian youths burned US and Israeli flags in Gaza. According to reports, demonstrators took to the streets on orders from both Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction and Hamas. Following a meeting chaired by Arafat, the Palestinian National Authority expressed "concern" for the strikes but "unreservedly" condemned world terrorism. Farouk Qaddoumi, a PLO official known for his opposition to the Oslo agreements, condemned the attack as "a military aggression under false pretexts". He added that "the Palestinian people, suffering from the same policy of arrogance and aggression, condemn this act and affirm solidarity with their Sudanese and Afghan brothers." Algeria called for a UN-sponsored international convention to combat terrorism. A statement by the Foreign Ministry said that "Algeria, which has always drawn attention to the international nature of terrorism... reaffirms the need for a globally concerted response by the world community under UN auspices."
