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'Divided' Arab summit continues No Lebanon breakthrough for Arabs
(about 22 hours later)
An annual summit of the Arab League is continuing in Syria's capital Damascus but key leaders are staying away amid signs of a growing regional rift. An annual summit of the Arab League has ended in Syria's capital Damascus with a call for an end to the political crisis in Lebanon.
Only 11 heads of states from the 22-member organisation were present at the summit's opening on Saturday. But correspondents say there were no specific proposals to solve the crisis, which has seen Lebanon without a president since November.
Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan were among those sending low-level delegations to the two-day gathering. Only 11 heads of states from the 22-member organisation were present, as key pro-Western leaders stayed away.
Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan sent low-level delegations.
They blame Syria for the ongoing political crisis in Lebanon - a charge denied by the government in Damascus.They blame Syria for the ongoing political crisis in Lebanon - a charge denied by the government in Damascus.
The Lebanese government is boycotting the summit completely. The Lebanese government boycotted the summit completely.
Saudi criticism Meddling denied
In a final statement, the League called for a compromise candidate to be elected president, and a national unity cabinet formed, AFP news agency reported.
But the BBC's Heba Saleh in Damascus says there were no breakthroughs.
Opening the meeting, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied his country was meddling in Lebanon.Opening the meeting, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied his country was meddling in Lebanon.
Syria had billed the summit as a golden opportunity for Arab unity Syria had billed the summit as a golden opportunity for Arab unityHe was responding to Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, who had accused Syria of preventing the election of a consensus president in Beirut.
He was responding to Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, who had accused Syria of preventing the election of a consensus president in Beirut.
Mr Assad said his country was willing to join "Arab or non-Arab efforts" to end Lebanon's political crisis "on condition that they are based on Lebanese national consensus".Mr Assad said his country was willing to join "Arab or non-Arab efforts" to end Lebanon's political crisis "on condition that they are based on Lebanese national consensus".
He was careful not to criticise those Arab leaders who refused to come to the summit, the BBC's Heba Saleh reports from Damascus. But our correspondent says it will take more than words to convince his critics, and Syria risks further isolation if there is no immediate resolution to the Lebanon crisis.
Nonetheless, it appears the rift is deepening between Syria and the main pro-Western states of the region, our correspondent says.
In Riyadh, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, suggested Syria had not abided by the Arab consensus on Lebanon. "The problem is that what was decided unanimously in the Arab League, including by Syria, is not being carried out," he said.In Riyadh, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, suggested Syria had not abided by the Arab consensus on Lebanon. "The problem is that what was decided unanimously in the Arab League, including by Syria, is not being carried out," he said.
The foreign minister called for ''counter-measures".The foreign minister called for ''counter-measures".
US blamedUS blamed
Syria had billed the summit as a golden opportunity for regional unity but there is little sign of this, BBC Middle East correspondent Katya Adler reports from Damascus.Syria had billed the summit as a golden opportunity for regional unity but there is little sign of this, BBC Middle East correspondent Katya Adler reports from Damascus.
They [the US] did their best to prevent the summit but they failed Walid MoualemSyrian Foreign Minister No comfort for LebanonThey [the US] did their best to prevent the summit but they failed Walid MoualemSyrian Foreign Minister No comfort for Lebanon
She says the leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon are all staying at home because they view Syria as a trouble-maker, too close to Iran and a destructive force in Lebanon.She says the leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon are all staying at home because they view Syria as a trouble-maker, too close to Iran and a destructive force in Lebanon.
Syria has accused them in the past of being subservient to the US and Foreign Minister Walid Moualem has blamed Washington for trying to "divide the Arab world".Syria has accused them in the past of being subservient to the US and Foreign Minister Walid Moualem has blamed Washington for trying to "divide the Arab world".
"They [the US] did their best to prevent the summit but they failed," Mr Moualem said on the eve of the summit."They [the US] did their best to prevent the summit but they failed," Mr Moualem said on the eve of the summit.
'Two axes'
Wahid Abdel-Meguid, of the Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, believes the division within the region is now clear.
"There are now two axes - Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah are on one side and the rest are on the another," he was quoted as saying by The Associated Press.
"The Syrian axis is coherent and they have a clear objective and they are working in an organised way."
Our Middle East correspondent notes that people across the Arab world say they are sick of this in-fighting.
There is no shortage of crises in their region but Arab states disagree over who is to blame and what is to be done and it seems unlikely they will resolve those differences this weekend, she says.