Region | Syria
Lebanon absent at opening of Arab summit in Damascus
Lebanon and Arab leaders critical of Syria's role in the Lebanese crisis skip the Arab summit opening.
- Agencies
- Published: 14:01 March 29, 2008
- The Lebanese national flag (centre) with the national flags of other member countries of the Arab League are seen on a main street in Damascus.
- Image Credit: Reuters
Damascus: Lebanon and Arab leaders critical of Syria's role in the Lebanese crisis were not present as an Arab summit opened in Damascus on Saturday.
The Arab League summit was meant to focus on ways to resolve the political crisis in Lebanon, which has been without a president since November.
The Lebanese government and its allies say Syria is obstructing the process of electing a new president. Syria says the United States and its regional allies are responsible.
Only eleven leaders from the Arab League's 22 members were present at the opening of the summit at the Syrian capital.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan did not attend.
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