Cairo: Egypt's foreign minister was confirmed as the Arab League's next chief on Sunday after becoming the only candidate in last-minute diplomacy and will lead the organisation amid unprecedented turmoil in the region.
Nabil Al Arabi, nominated shortly before foreign ministers were due to meet on Sunday, will take over from Amr Mousa, another former Egyptian foreign minister who led the 22-nation Cairo-based body for 10 years.
Earlier, Qatar has withdrawn its candidate to head the League, Al Arabiya television reported Sunday, leaving Al Arabi, as the sole candidate to head the Cairo-based organisation.
Egypt nominated its Foreign Minister Nabeel Al Arabi to head the Arab League, after withdrawing another candidate just moments before voting was due to start, an Arab diplomat told AFP.
“Egypt has withdrawn the candidacy of Mustafa Al Fikki and nominated Nabeel Al Arabi instead," the diplomat said.
Al Fikki, a diplomat under the regime of Egypt's ousted president Hosni Mubarak, had faced strong opposition both on the Egyptian street and from within the 22-member Arab League, sources said.
