Iraq Urges Diplomatic Solution, Frees Prisoners

Iraq’s foreign minister called Saturday for a diplomatic solution to the dispute over U.N. weapons inspections and accused the United States of trying to prolong punishing trade sanctions.

Mohammed Said Sahaf, after meeting with Jordan’s King Hussein in the Jordanian capital, Amman, said Iraq was seeking a diplomatic answer to “distance the shadow of war on Iraq and avert serious dangers to the whole region,” Jordan’s official Petra news agency reported.

In Baghdad, Iraq released more Egyptian prisoners Saturday under a general amnesty for foreign Arab convicts in Iraqi jails, apparently moving to firm up backing in the Arab world in case of a U.S. attack.

Iraq announced the amnesty for Arab prisoners earlier this month. It said it would cover all Arab foreigners whatever their crime.

An Egyptian diplomat who confirmed Saturday’s prisoner release did not know how many were freed.

In London, Britain warned against any diplomatic compromise that would leave Iraq with an arsenal, while antiwar demonstrators chanted outside the prime minister’s office.

And the U.S. State Department advised Americans on Saturday to avoid travel to the West Bank and Gaza Strip and to use caution in Jerusalem despite the “low probability” of an Iraqi attack on Israel.