By Paul Wood BBC Middle East correspondent in Cairo

Pick up a daily newspaper in the Arab world and you will get a very different view of the Iraq crisis - Baghdad is doing everyone a favour by standing up to the Israelis, America just wants Iraq's oil, and, anyway, Saddam has no weapons of mass destruction.

"The accusation that Iraq has these weapons is going to be proved the lie of the century after the inspectors finish their job," said the Libyan daily, Azzahf-al-Akhder.

The resolution that was issued cannot be accepted if you believe in freedom and sovereignty

Adnan Umran, Syrian Information Minister

"They will fail to find what the Americans want them to find," it said.

The "Arab street" is not as angry about Iraq as everyone supposes it to be.

But most Arabs do believe America has been throwing its weight around without just cause.

For instance, Syria is on the UN Security Council and voted for the American sponsored resolution, although you almost wouldn't think so from this remarks of Adnan Umran, the country's information minister.

"The resolution that was issued cannot be accepted if you believe in freedom and sovereignty, never," he told Syrian television.

"But at least its claws and nails have been trimmed and the inspections may lead to a lifting of sanctions and an end to the suffering of the Iraqi people."

'Twisted'

As the first UN arms inspectors arrived in Baghdad on Monday, Iraq has renewed calls for the Security Council to stop the United States from using Resolution 1441 to go to war.

"Members of the Security Council should assume their legal and moral responsibilities in the face of any US or British attempt to exploit the terms of this twisted resolution to attack Iraq," said the Ath Thawra newspaper, seen as a mouthpiece of the ruling Ba'ath party of Saddam Hussein.

Arab allies like Saudi Arabia cannot refuse a direct plea for elp

Saudi Arabian state television carried this message from the government: "The government expresses hope that the return of the inspectors will put an end to the tense situation in the region and avert war and the use of military force.

"The cabinet hopes the Iraqi Government co-operates fully with the inspection committee and the parties concerned abide by the contents of the resolution."

American allies like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt know they cannot refuse a direct plea for help from Washington if there is a war.

These Arab nations are hoping that Saddam will blink first and that President Bush is bluffing.