(4 of 4)
The Egyptian case was pressed by a number of black African and Asian nations, including Guinea, Senegal, Malaysia and Pakistan, and they reportedly gained the support of 32 delegations. Libya, Syria and South Yemen boycotted the closing session, at which the invitation to Egypt was announced, but most delegates seemed delighted. Said a Pakistani: "Sadat is dead, and there's a new man in power who would desperately like to re-establish Egypt's position within the Islamic community." In the meantime, Egyptian officials declared that they hoped to meet with Jordan and the P.L.O. to seek a new approach for negotiating the return of the occupied territories.
Among Egypt's strongest supporters at Casablanca was Yasser Arafat, who demonstrated that, despite the adversities he has suffered during the past year, he has retained the backing of most Islamic states. Lebanon was scarcely mentioned, if only because delegates found it difficult to say anything constructive. Saudi Arabia's King Fahd, in calling again on the Israelis to withdraw from Lebanon, claimed to be "optimistic" about the ability of the Lebanese "to achieve national unity," but he said it without particular conviction. —By William E. Smith.
Reported by John Borrell/Beirut and Thomas A. Sancton/Casablanca