Arab allies discuss Lebanon vote

Wednesday, 15 September, 2004, 15:23 GMT 16:23 UK

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak had made an unscheduled trip to Syria after a divisive Arab League debate over Syria's military presence in Lebanon.

Arab ministers agreed on Tuesday a motion supporting Lebanon's right to make its own "political choices".

But the six Arab Gulf states and Jordan earlier criticised Syria's presence in Lebanon and voiced support for a UN resolution seeking its withdrawal.

It was a rare challenge to a fellow Arab League state, correspondents said

Egypt's semi-official news agency, Mena, quoted Mr Mubarak's spokesman as saying the presidents discussed how to adopt a "realistic and practical framework" to deal with UN resolution 1559.

The spokesman stressed the need for an end to "Israel's occupation of all Syrian and Lebanese territories" within that framework.

Special relations

Syria still has more than 15,000 troops stationed in Lebanon. Israel occupies Syria's Golan Heights and the disputed Shebaa Farms area, which Syria says belongs to Lebanon.

According to an Arab League official quoted by Associated Press, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Sharaa warned that support for the resolution would lead to United States intervention in all Arab matters.

Tuesdays debate ended with a joint statement that did not mention the resolution and expressed support for the "special relations between Syria and Lebanon."

The league statement also supported Lebanon's "sovereign right to practise its political choices within constitutional institutions".

Mr Mubarak's brief visit to Damascus was his first trip abroad since returning from hospital treatment in Germany in July.