Arabs skeptical of ME peace conference proposal

Arab League governments were reluctant Monday to support US President Bush's call for an international conference to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, with top diplomats stressing the importance of making the Arab peace initiative key to any talks. Meeting in Cairo to build a response to the US proposal, the Arab League welcomed what it called "the positive elements" in the proposed peace conference. But it said the talks should be "all inclusive" - a reference to other Arab-Israeli conflicts, mainly with Syria.