SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt -- Iraq is still threatening Kuwait, Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah told an Arab summit in this Egyptian Red Sea resort Saturday.

"We lived a moment of optimism after the Beirut summit," one year ago, when the 1991 Persian Gulf War foes launched a brief reconcilation bid, Sheikh Sabah said.

"But Iraq has resumed threatening Kuwait, plunging us into a period of concern and suspicion," he added, addressing leaders and officials representing the 22 Arab League members, AFP reported.

He mentioned a December 7 speech by Saddam Hussein in which the Iraqi leader apologized for the 1990 invasion of Kuwait but blasted the emirate's leadership and urged its people to oppose the deployment of U.S. forces.

Saddam "is encouraging terrorist operations" against U.S. troops, Sheikh Sabah charged, recalling that Kuwait arrested three of its nationals Monday on suspicion of planning attacks against Americans.

He also accused Iraq of "procrastination" on the issue of Kuwaitis and other nationals still missing after its seven-month occupation of the emirate. The Kuwaiti minister called on Iraq "to cooperate fully and seriously" with the UN weapons inspections "and to reveal and destroy its weapons of mass destruction."