Leaders gather at Islamic summit

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) _ The leaders of dozens of Islamic nations are in Senegal's capital for the opening of a two-day summit to study ways to improve Islam's image in the West and spur economic development in some of the Muslim world's poorest members.

The summit of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference, the world's largest Muslim grouping, opens Thursday and brings together Arab countries that set the price of oil with small African nations who struggle to provide their citizens with paved roads.

Some 40-odd heads of state are attending, including Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.