View Point: Arab League summit in Syria 

Boycotted this year by half of the Arab world's leaders, the Arab League's annual summit opened in the Syrian capital Damascus in the midst of crises in the region. (While Lebanon is reeling under serious "ruling" crisis, Hamas is under virtual siege from Israeli forces with their borders closed down by Israel, followed by air-strikes killing many, resulting in panic situation created in Palestine and Palestinians breached a part of the border with Egypt to buy essential daily requirements).

In all, nine heads of state from the Arab League's 22 members did not attend the Damascus gathering. Key leaders stayed away amid signs of a growing regional rift among the Arab states themselves. The shaky start for the summit signaled by the absence of several Arab states and accusations followed by counter-allegations by member-states. They protested Syria's hard-line stances in nearly every crisis in the Mideast. They blamed Syria for the ongoing political crisis in Lebanon, whose government is staying away completely. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora denounced Syria for preventing the election of a consensus president in Beirut. Their absence is touted by Syria as a triumph over American influence.

The summit has been driven by deep divisions among Arab leaders, mainly over alleged Syrian meddling in Lebanese affairs. However, it has been billed by Syria as "the summit of joint Arab action" is expected to boost its prestige. Lebanon is boycotted the summit completely, the first time an Arab country has refused to send a delegation since Arab leaders began holding annual summits in 2000. The Western-backed government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora accused Syria of blocking attempts to elect a new Lebanese president. Meanwhile, Syria billed it as a golden opportunity for regional unity but there is little sign of this. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem accused the US of trying to divide Arabs by urging allies to stay away. Syria has accused them in the past of being subservient to the US.

Moualem told reporters that USA did its best to prevent the summit but they failed. "Their aim is to divide the Arab world." He promised that there would be "no trace of the United States on the summit's work or agenda". PRO-USA AND PRO-IRAN Washington last week urged its Arab allies in the region to think twice before attending the summit, accusing Syria of blocking the election of a new president in Lebanon.

As a result, Egypt sent a junior minister while powerhouse Saudi Arabia and Jordan were represented by their ambassadors to the Arab League. Palestine was represented, while Lebanon boycotted the summit altogether.

Dr Abdul Ruff Colachal