This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7971624.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Arab leaders back 'wanted' Bashir | Arab leaders back 'wanted' Bashir |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Arab leaders have concluded their annual summit by showing their support for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir who is wanted for war crimes. | Arab leaders have concluded their annual summit by showing their support for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir who is wanted for war crimes. |
| The Arab League said it rejected the International Criminal Court's decision to issue a warrant for his arrest. | The Arab League said it rejected the International Criminal Court's decision to issue a warrant for his arrest. |
| President Bashir had earlier spoken at the summit in Qatar, and won strong support from his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad. | President Bashir had earlier spoken at the summit in Qatar, and won strong support from his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad. |
| They were among 17 heads of state in Qatar, but some seats remained empty. | They were among 17 heads of state in Qatar, but some seats remained empty. |
| The most notable absentee was President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. Correspondents say he is unhappy with Qatar's stance during the recent Gaza conflict. | The most notable absentee was President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. Correspondents say he is unhappy with Qatar's stance during the recent Gaza conflict. |
| SUMMIT FACTS 17 out of 22 heads of state attendingPresident Hosni Mubarak of Egypt is absentSudan's president is flouting an ICC arrest warrant to attendUN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is attendingIran is not a member of the organisation Regional rifts stymie Arab summit African Union's eventful year with Gaddafi | |
| Meanwhile, the BBC's Katya Adler, in Qatar, says earlier reports that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had stormed out of the Arab League summit were incorrect. | Meanwhile, the BBC's Katya Adler, in Qatar, says earlier reports that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had stormed out of the Arab League summit were incorrect. |
| But, our correspondent says, Mr Gaddafi used the floor to settle old scores, criticising Saudi King Abdullah and appearing to reignite a public spat he had at the 2003 Arab summit. | |
| At Monday's opening session he called the king a British product and an American ally. | |
| But he added that he now considered their "problem" over and was ready to reconcile, drawing applause from the other delegates. | |
| The two leaders appeared to bury the hatchet with a 30 minute face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the summit, reports said. | |
| 'Massacres and atrocities' | 'Massacres and atrocities' |
| At the end of the summit a joint statement by the Arab League said: "We stress our solidarity with Sudan and our rejection of the ICC (International Criminal Court) decision." | |
| Earlier in the day, Syrian President Assad said those who had "committed massacres and atrocities in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon" should be arrested first. | Earlier in the day, Syrian President Assad said those who had "committed massacres and atrocities in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon" should be arrested first. |
| Many African states, along with Sudan's key ally China, have called for the ICC proceedings to be suspended, arguing they will hamper efforts to bring peace to Darfur. | Many African states, along with Sudan's key ally China, have called for the ICC proceedings to be suspended, arguing they will hamper efforts to bring peace to Darfur. |
| President Bashir attended the summit to thank the leaders for their support. | President Bashir attended the summit to thank the leaders for their support. |
| Qatar has not signed the ICC charter, which obliges a member state to arrest those indicted by the court when they enter its territory. | Qatar has not signed the ICC charter, which obliges a member state to arrest those indicted by the court when they enter its territory. |
| In his opening remarks, Syria's President Assad also spoke about Israel - saying the Arab world had no "real partner in the peace process". | |
| He said this had been demonstrated by the recent Israeli election, with Benjamin Netanyahu due to become prime minister at the head of a right-wing coalition. |