Sharp divisions were reported here today between radical and moderate Arab countries on whether to request an emergency special session of the General Assembly in the wake of the US veto in the Security Council over the Lebanese crisis.
Reliable Arab sources said today that Lebanon is against the convening of an emergency special session because it believes that such a session would not produce the desired result of a cease-fire in Lebanon.
According to these sources, the radical Arab states would pursue the ouster of Israel from the General Assembly for its invasion of Lebanon. But such a move against Israel, the moderate Arabs believe, would only harm the Arabs in the final analysis and would have severe repercussions as far as the United States is concerned. The United States warned a few times in recent months of severe retaliation, such as cutting financial support to the UN, should not be suspended or ousted from the General Assembly.
Members of the Arab League and expected to conclude their discussions on whether to request an emergency special session on Lebanon tonight. Should the Arabs decide to go ahead with an emergency special session, they will have to submit a request for such a meeting to the Secretary-General who, in turn, will have to convene the meeting within 24 hours.
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