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Asia Times: Saddam exile plan gathers pace
-->Middle East
Saddam exile plan gathers pace
By Syed Saleem Shahzad
KARACHI - Even as the United States appears to be drawing closer by the day to attacking Iraq, behind-the-scenes efforts are continuing to find a peaceful solution to the crisis by forcing Saddam Hussein to step down at the eleventh hour to prevent his humiliating dethroning after defeat in war, with Saudi Arabia and the US playing a pivotal role in the diplomatic initiative.
Asia Times Online has learned of an unpublicized visit to Pakistan by a high-powered Saudi delegation believed to have been headed by influential Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the defense minister. The Saudis flew into the city of Rawalpindi last Friday aboard a special non-stop flight from Washington and then flew on to Paris the following day.
The Pakistan government has not said a single word about the delegation, but a highly-placed official in the Islamabad administration told Asia Times Online that the mission was a part of ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at developing a plan for the exile of Saddam, as well as to discuss possible options for the future of Iraq.
"The high-profile delegation that arrived on January 24 in a chartered Saudi Airbus A-340-200, with registration number HZ-124, held important meetings with President General Pervez Musharraf and other top brass of the military on recent developments in Iraq," the official said. He added that the Saudi delegation, which was escorted by a 20-strong elite commando guard, included two senior officials of the US government.
On Thursday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal was due in Washington from Paris for talks at the White House, most likely including President George W Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell. Prince Saud will be the highest ranking Saudi official to visit Washington in several months.
On Wednesday, Powell, speaking to reporters, said,"If he [Saddam] were to leave the country and take some of his family members with him and others in the leading elite who have been responsible for so much trouble during the course of his regime, we would, I'm sure, try to help find a place for them to go."
The source said that the Saudi delegation's visit to Pakistan was so important that its members were whisked away from Chaklala Airport in Rawalpindi under the watchful eyes of crack Pakistani commando groups amid tight security.
Other sources said that apart from one person who was a British national, the entire crew of the aircraft was from the United States. The visit of the delegation was"so secret" that not a single person from the Saudi embassy was present to welcome the visitors, the source said."And it was not the last visit," the source said, adding,"The second phase of the mission is expected very soon."
Pakistan's support of an"exile" plan for Saddam is important as it is an influential member of the 50-plus strong Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which could, if it speaks with a united voice, increase the pressure on Saddam to step down before the bombs start falling. Since January, Pakistan has also been a temporary member of the UN Security Council.
Commenting on the diplomatic initiative, a senior US official in Pakistan told Asia Times Online that there is still optimism that it will succeed in bringing Saddam to his knees."The Saddam Hussein of 12 years ago and the Saddam Hussein of today are two different persons. There are reports of internal pressure on Saddam not to go for war and some reports suggest that the current pressures have shattered his nerves. It is highly expected that he could step down and agree to go into exile."
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