ALSO OF NOTE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The wars of the Middle East are causing political casualties, too. The Western Sahara conflict, which pits Morocco against Algeria and Libya, effectively derailed last week's summit of the Organization of African Unity in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

The almost two-year-old Iran-Iraq war seems almost certain to cause cancellation -- or paltry attendance -- of the summit of nonaligned nations in Baghdad in September.

And now the continuing war in Lebanon is threatening the yearly Arab summit conference. Lebanese Foreign Minister Fuad Butros says because of widespread Arab disagreement he does not think the Arab summit can be held in Fez, Morocco, as conservative Arab leaders desire. That may mean no Arab summit this year.