A conference of Arab intellectuals and politicians opposed to possible US military action against Iraq has entered its second and final day.

The gathering in the Syrian capital, Damascus, is being attended by the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Tariq Aziz.

"No Arab country is free of the threat, even if it takes part alongside America in the aggression against Iraq," Mr Aziz told reporters.

Hundreds of delegates from Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and North Africa are also attending the conference.

On the first day, speakers criticised US threats to launch an attack against Iraq and called for a lifting of trade sanctions.

Among the speakers was British member of parliament George Galloway, who said Washington had invented the Iraq crisis to divert attention from economic and political problems at home.