"The government we will deal with is the one chosen by the Iraqi people. We will accept whatever the Iraqi people decide," Prince Saud told a press conference.

"The way should be open before the Iraqi people to choose the means by which they wish to run their own affairs and the occupation should end as soon as possible," he added.

He also expressed the kingdom's growing concern over the lawlessness, looting and lack of security in Iraq, saying if it continued it might lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.

The Saudi foreign minister attributed looting in Iraqi cities to the shortage of food and essential materials.

He stressed the necessity of urgent international action to restore law and order so that humanitarian aid such as foodstuffs and medicines can reach the Iraqi people.

US tanks and troops rolled into the Iraqi capital of Baghdad onWednesday after days of fierce battles to take over the city of 5 million people, leaving pockets of isolated resistance.

On the possibility of Saudi Arabia's participation in Iraq's post-war reconstruction and coordination with the United States and Britain, the minister said that before the an Iraqi legitimategovernment is set up and win international recognition, his country cannot talk about the issue of reconstruction.

"The first and basic step is to give the Iraqis a chance to choose the government which they like before taking another step toward reconstruction. As the situation is unstable, only the Iraqi people could say something," Prince Saud said.

Asked if Saudi Arabia, an important neighboring country of Iraq,has a proposal on the future of Iraq, the foreign minister said the issue is being discussed at the international arena. He also stressed the importance of a UN role in Iraq.

In response to a question concerning the military cooperation pact between Saudi Arabia and the United States, Prince Saud denied that there exist any military pacts or agreements between the two countries, except the UN-sponsored Safwan agreement regarding the US patrol of a "no-fly zone" over southern Iraq.

"These are the facilities provided by the kingdom upon a UN resolution. If there had been other treaties, we would have announced them," he said.

Saudi Arabia now hosts some 9,000 US troops but the kingdom hasrepeatedly said it would not take part in any war on its neighbor.The kingdom was a key member of the US-led alliance that drove Iraqi occupation troops out of Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War.

(Xinhua News Agency April 10, 2003)