Arab League steps in to defuse Saudi-Syria row

Dubai: Arab diplomats in Cairo were holding urgent talks last night on the escalating tension between Saudi Arabia and Syria, Gulf News learnt.

The talks sought "the best way to approach the row" which erupted on Thursday with an unusually scathing Saudi official statement that accused Syria of "spreading chaos and instability" in the region, one diplomat said.

According to the Saudi statement, Riyadh was outraged by statements made earlier last week by Syrian Vice-President Farouk Al Shara'a in which he was quoted as saying that Saudi Arabia's role is now "virtually paralysed".

"The problem is not in the stances of the kingdom but rather in [Syrian] positions which have disregarded the unity of Arab ranks and worked for spreading chaos and turbulence in the region," said the Saudi statement.

Contacts initiated

Earlier, Al Shara'a was quoted as saying that the collapse of the Makkah Accord between Fatah and Hamas, showed either that Saudi Arabia was hamstrung or that the kingdom had lost the ear of its old ally the United States.

Arab League spokesman Hesham Yousuf said the organisation would not comment on the issue as contacts are still being initiated.

The league's position indicates the difficulty facing its members to restore the usually strong ties between the two regional heavyweights.

But a Cairo-based diplomat, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, told Gulf News that talks among some league members are being held, and will continue on Sunday, to find a way to ease the tension.

"It is too soon though to predict results," he added.

Relations between Riyadh and Damascus have suffered major setbacks since the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a close Saudi ally who also held Saudi citizenship.

The situation behind the scenes

According to Arab sources, Riyadh has repeatedly asked Damascus to:

- Stop using its Lebanese allies to undermine the Saudi-backed government of Fouad Siniora.

- Exert pressure on Palestinian movement Hamas - whose leaders live in Damascus - to implement a deal brokered by the kingdom to form a unity govern-ment and resume peace talks.

- Stop helping Iran flex its regional muscles and spread its influence to Iraq and Lebanon.

A former Syrian official said Damascus has yet to cooperate with these three demands.