It would be wheelchair-accessible and would include a research laboratory and facilities to teach people the story of the reef, he said.Sunlover, a subsidiary of a large international shipping line, knows development projects relating to the Barrier Reef evoke strong emotions, and is aware that it could face legal challenges.The plan would have to be approved by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority, a government-funded agency that looks after the site.. Saddam Hussein dismissed the UN order to destroy his al-Samoud 2 missiles as a ploy designed to demoralise Iraqis before an enemy attack. Why do they focus on this detail? Because they think that such minor issues will affect your morale.”The comments were his first since Iraq began destroying al-Samoud 2 missiles on the orders of Hans Blix, the chief UN weapons inspector, who suggested their range might go beyond the 150km (93 miles) allowed by the UN. Since Saturday, Iraq has destroyed 28 missiles, including nine yesterday. The destruction order also covers missile engines, launchers, fuel and other components.President Saddam’s scientific adviser, Lieutenant- General Amer al-Saadi, has said Iraq had not allowed photographs or video of the destruction to be shown because it didn’t want the Iraqi people to see a bitter image “It is too harsh. That’s why we have released no pictures,” he said.One of the army commanders told the Iraqi leader that despite the missiles’ destruction, Iraqi soldiers remained ready to repel any attack..

Welcome to Arab unity. The Iraqi delegate, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, called a senior Kuwaiti delegate at the Doha summit “a monkey and a traitor” for interrupting him

Welcome to Arab unity. Everyone in the Gulf, of course, said President Saddam should resign, which is not surprising since he is the only Arab leader who – however wrong his reasons – has fought against America.At the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Doha, Qatar, yesterday, Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah interrupted to talk about Iraqi “lies” The Iraqis’ reply? Mr Douri was quite forthright “Shut up, you monkey, you traitor. Curses be upon your moustache,” he said.Sheikh Ahmed Fahd al-Ahmed, the Kuwaiti Information Minister, leapt up, waved his small Kuwaiti flag and demanded the floor. But the chairman, Sheikh Hamed bin Khalifa bin al-Saadi, chairing the summit for the United Arab Emirates, was adamant. “We are not here for such exchanges,” he said.Turning to Mr Douri, the chairman responded: “You started your speech with a verse of the Koran which said that we shall be united by the word of God. This is hypocrisy and falsehood.”No wonder most Arab nations declined their invitation to Doha – even Lebanon sent only a low-level delegation Democracy does not really exist in the Arab world.

Only in Turkey does it have some effect, which is why, to the immense shame of the Arabs, Turkey has refused to accept US troops on its territory to invade Iraq – even while at least five Arab states have done so.Turkey, as every Arab knows, is an ally of Israel. But Turkey – the much-loathed centre of the former Ottoman empire – has represented Arabs just as France’s President, Fran?s Chirac, now represents most Britons.The Doha summit was never going to sway the governments of Europe or America but it was one more chance, if it were needed, for the Arab world to show some form of mature opposition to the impending war on Iraq Alas for the Arabs. The tribes of the Gulf and Iraq – “tribes with flags” as a great British historian of the Crusades called them – were not going to put on any shows of unity.Just as Colonel Gaddafi of Libya and Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia spat venom at each other at the Arab League summit at Sharm al-Sheikh at the weekend, so the Iraqis and their Gulf adversaries were bound to demonstrate their hatred yesterday.. Tony Blair expressed confidence yesterday that Britain and the United States would secure backing in the United Nations for their resolution on Iraq. It is plain at the present time he is not in such compliance.”The Prime Minister surprised MPs by adding: “We are confident of securing the votes for that resolution.