By Heba Saleh BBC correspondent in Cairo

Arab ministers have called for swift action on the issue of weapons inspections in Iraq.

Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League - an association of 22 Arab states - said the first steps to a peaceful solution to the crisis involved the return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq.

Arab states would like arms inspections to resume

The tone of his and other speeches at an Arab League meeting in Cairo reflects the sense of urgency felt by governments across the region.

In the last day or two, the rhetoric coming out of Washington and London has been increasingly war-like.

The US wants Saddam Hussein ousted, even if he lets in the UN weapons inspectors.

Threats rejected

But Arab leaders fear that an American-led military campaign against Iraq would unleash an uncontrollable wave of popular anger.

Mr Amr Moussa said a war would threaten stability in the region.

And he called for fast action, starting with the return of the weapons inspectors.

Iraq has already heard, and will almost certainly hear again during this meeting, similar exhortations from other Arab states.

All League members say they reject the American threats and want Baghdad to engage in dialogue with the UN, leading to the return of the inspectors.

Iraqi officials have already suggested that the resumption of inspections is a possibility.

The US has dismissed this as a delaying tactic.

But the Arabs know that there is much international opposition to war against Iraq.

Their only hope now is that if the inspectors return, war could still be prevented.