Iraqi Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan arrived in Syria on Tuesday seeking to build diplomatic defenses against the threat of U.S. attack, as the United States stepped up its war talk against Baghdad. U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney on Monday laid out the case for pre-emptive action against Iraq citing mortal danger to the United States.

He warned of the danger of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorists and said: "The risk of inaction is far greater than the risk of action."

Ramadan, accompanied by a high-level delegation, was met at Damascus airport by Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa Mero and headed directly for the presidential palace where he began talks with President Bashar al-Assad.

Although Ramadan's visit has an economic agenda -- a set of trade, economic, health, education and environment agreements are due to be signed -- analysts say its aim is to send a strong message to Washington, where official policy is to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

"This visit has an economic character but it also has a political dimension, especially as Syria opposes a strike on Iraq and is working hard to build an Arab front to head off any U.S. attack," political analyst Imad Shueibi said.

Damascus -- itself under pressure from the United States over its support for Lebanese Hizbollah and Palestinian groups Washington deems "terrorist" -- argues an attack on Iraq is the first step toward installing a host of Middle East puppet regimes subordinated to Washington and its ally Israel.

Syria's official press called on Tuesday for Arab unity in the face of what it said was a common threat.

"All the Arabs without exception are at risk," the official al-Baa'th newspaper said in its commentary.

"What they want is clear -- total control, with no condition, of the Middle East and to force its states to get in line with a global military-political system based on wiping out all forms of opposition and redrawing the map of the area as they see fit and in a way that serves Israel, its interests and ambitions."

DOES OIL LUBRICATE IRAQ-SYRIA RECONCILIATION?

The relationship between Syria and Iraq -- for decades bitter enemies -- has blossomed in recent years, and includes estimated imports of 150,000 bpd of Iraqi oil by Syria.

Syria insists all petroleum trade is conducted within the U.N. oil-for-food program governing Iraq's oil exports.

Before his visit, Ramadan said Iraq was banking on Arabs and Muslims standing up to the United States, since his country was "born from the same Arab womb that bore us all."

He warned a strike on Iraq would be the beginning of a widescale U.S. military campaign against the oil-rich region.

"If they get Iraq, God forbid, the next country in line would be Saudi Arabia or Egypt or Syria or Lebanon," he told the Arabic language Asharq al-Awsat daily.

"Iraq is not the target. It is only the beginning of a plan to gain hegemony over the region and control of its resources."

Washington's threat to use military force to topple Saddam has so far won little international support, particularly from many of Iraq's Arab neighbors, key players in the U.S.-led alliance that drove Iraq from Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War.

Tension has mounted not only between Washington and its Arab foes but also traditional allies such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Syria believes Washington is punishing Damascus and other Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt for not falling into line with its policy goals on Iraq.

PHOTO CAPTION

Iraqi Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan arrived in Syria on Tuesday seeking to build diplomatic defenses against the threat of U.S. attack, as the United States stepped up its war talk against Ba