"We do not want to replace the Israeli tank in Palestine with a Jordanian tank or the American tank in Iraq with a Jordanian tank, therefore we hope that our friends and brothers understand our position," he said.

"But if our Iraqi brothers request the participation of Arab forces on their territory, then we would look into the matter and see what is suitable," he told Al-Arabiya in an interview to be aired at 1830 GMT.

On Sunday, Arab League chief Amr Mussa said Arab and Islamic states do not at present want to send troops to Iraq.

He was speaking following talks with Saudi leaders who have proposed sending a Muslim force to replace the US-led troops in Iraq.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said on Sunday that any Muslim troops dispatched to Iraq would be sent to replace US-led multinational forces and not to supplement them.

He also said that troops should be sent only at Baghdad's request and operate under the auspices of the United Nations.

Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told Jordan's King Abdullah II yesterday he wanted the two countries to team up to help rebuild war-torn Iraq, a government official said.

"Thailand has agreed that Jordan is our ally in rebuilding Iraq as Thailand will join with Jordan in restructuring infrastructure," spokesman Jakrapob Penkair told reporters after the two leaders met in Bangkok.

King Abdullah, on a three-day official visit, told Thaksin Iraq was in urgent need of new roads, traffic signals and bridges following the war to oust president Saddam Hussein's regime last year and subsequent insurgency, Jakrapob said.

Thailand dispatched a 451-strong contingent of troops to Iraq in a one-year humanitarian mission due to end in September.