AP, Egypt, Aug. 16, 2008 (excerpts) _ Iran should not present the Western nations justification for war on “a silver platter” in the conflict over its nuclear program the way Saddam Hussein of Iraq did, Egypt’s presidential spokesman said Saturday.
Speaking after a meeting between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Saudi King Abdallah in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, spokesman Suleiman Awwad said:” Iran should not present on a silver platter the justifications and the pretexts for those who want to drag the region down a dangerous slope,” he said, noting the case of Saddam Hussein who didn’t adequately refute claims over Iraq’s supposed weapons of mass destruction.
“Iran owes the international community transparency and flexibility,” he said. “The Gulf is extremely worried and the Middle East is watching the standoff.”