BEIRUT, Lebanon - Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said Monday that Baghdad will not make any moves to normalize relations with Israel before other Arabs do as part of a Mideast settlement.
The U.S.-backed prime minister, speaking to reporters at a joint news conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, also dismissed Arab press reports that Israelis have established a presence in Iraq (news - web sites) after the U.S.-led invasion.
"Future relations with Israel are determined by two issues: international resolutions and a just and comprehensive peace that has been adopted by Arab leaderships, including the Palestinian leadership. Iraq will not take any unilateral action on a settlement with Israel outside those two frameworks," Allawi told reporters.
He described as "absolutely false" Arab press reports that Israeli intelligence agents were operating out of Iraq.
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