Syria and PLO demand use of oil weapon

Syria and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) have submitted a working paper to a meeting of Arab ministers demanding that the oil weapon be used against the United States and Western countries to force Middle East peace, sources at the Arab Economic and Social Council conference said Tuesday.

The paper called for a 25 percent reduction in Arab oil exports to such countries unless Arab demands are met. Their demands are Israeli withdrawal from all Arab territories occupied in the 1967 Mideast war, including Jerusalem, and the implementation of all UN resolutions on Palestinian rights.

The conference, being attended by foreign and economy ministers from 20 Arab League members and representatives of the PLO, is due to conclude today (July 9 ). Egypt is not attending because its membership in the Arab League was suspended after it signed a peace treaty with Israel.