Mini-Arab Summit Backs Peace Plan

Mini-Arab Summit Backs Peace Plan
HIGHLIGHTS: Egyptian-Saudi Summit Discusses Reactivating Arab Unity & Coordination With the Palestinians||Trilateral Summit Condemns Israel & Back s Palestinians||Ministers Meeting on Sidelines Say Arabs Will Triumph Over Israeli Provocations||STORY: President Hosni Mubarak and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah wrapped up two days of talks Sunday, while their aides briefed senior Palestinians on concerns about an international peace conference and Arab efforts toward defusing the Mideast crisis. Mubarak and Abdullah's meeting followed trilateral talks Saturday with Syrian President Bashar Assad in the Sinai resort town, of Sharm El-Shiekh, where the leaders condemned recent Israeli military incursions and reaffirmed support for a land-for-peace initiative Arabs endorsed at a March summit.(Read photo caption)

Mubarak and Abdullah spoke Sunday about "steps needed to activate what has been discussed ... and ways of coordinating with the Palestinian side," said Egyptian Information Minister Safwat el-Sharif. He said they also discussed the international community's responsibility in rebuilding Palestinian infrastructure devastated by Israel's massive military campaign, which began March 29 after a wave of suicide bombings targeting Israeli civilians.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Gaza security chief Mohammed Dahlan and Palestinian Cabinet minister Nabil Shaath met with Egyptian and Saudi foreign ministers and top diplomats in talks that stretched from Saturday midnight until shortly before dawn Sunday.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal told reporters they discussed steps Palestinians consider necessary and the sort of Arab support needed. He was not specific, but said of the Israelis: "We will triumph over their provocations."

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, Shaath said all issues, including an international peace conference, were discussed, and that what Palestinians seek is "ending any (Israeli) threat of incursion or occupation and ending the occupation for good."

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher said Mubarak and Abdullah discussed "detailed plans of action" based on what Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria agreed on Saturday, adding the discussed steps would be conveyed to other Arab countries during meetings next week in Beirut.

PHOTO CAPTION

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, center, meets with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad, right, and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, left, at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik Saturday May 11, 2002. Three key Middle East leaders ended talks Saturday calling on Arabs to support a Saudi peace initiative and denouncing Israeli military attacks on Palestinians. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

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