Arabs to tackle divisions at Syria summit

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - An Arab summit will discuss divisions worsened by the crisis in Lebanon, foreign ministers said on Thursday, but the absence of the Saudi, Egyptian and Jordanian leaders will make bridging differences difficult.

The ministers, meeting to prepare for the March 29-30 summit in Damascus, held a rare session on ways to heal the rift among Arab countries and agreed to ask their leaders to discuss the issue, they said.

"The brainstorming session was important because we discussed our joint experiences in Arab division and the harm it does," said Arab League chief Amr Moussa, who was charged with preparing proposals for ways to heal the rifts.

"There was a very calm discussion, respectful and cordial," Moussa told reporters.

Tension between Saudi Arabia and Syria over Lebanon has boiled over in the run-up to the summit.

Lebanon and Washington's three closest Arab allies Saudi King Abdullah, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah will not attend in protest against what they consider Syrian meddling in its neighbor's affairs.

Jordanian officials said the monarch would not attend but could send a senior official to represent him, unlike Riyadh and Cairo who are sending junior representatives.

Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Lebanon were not present at the meeting.

The summit will also reiterate its commitment to an Arab land-for-peace proposal to Israel first made to the Jewish state at a Beirut summit in 2002. Reports in the Arab press had earlier said that Syria could push for revising the offer.

It would also back an Arab League drive to find a solution in Lebanon.

Beirut's government, which is backed by countries including the United States and Saudi Arabia, has been locked in a power struggle since November 2006 with an opposition alliance backed by Syria and led by Hezbollah, a group also sponsored by Iran.

"BIG INFLUENCE"

Speaking at the foreign ministers' meeting, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem dismissed accusations that Syria was prolonging the deadlock in Beirut and took a swipe at Riyadh.

"The effort has to come from all Arab parties with friendships and influence in Lebanon. I point especially to Saudi Arabia which wields a big influence on the (ruling) majority," Moualem said.

"Syria wants a stable, sovereign Lebanon. Anyone who thinks otherwise is mistaken. We are the first to be hurt from a worsening situation in Lebanon and we will be the first to benefit from stability," Moualem said.