DAMASCUS: An Arab summit will discuss divisions worsened by the crisis in Lebanon, foreign ministers said today, 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 neighbour'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.

Syria supports demands by the Hezbollah-led opposition for effective veto power in the cabinet while Saudi Arabia supports the parliamentary majority led by billionaire politician Saad al-Hariri, who has resisted Hezbollah's demands.

The majority coalition in a statement addressed to the summit called on the Arab states to put pressure on Syria to establish diplomatic ties with Beirut and abandon its attempts to regain full control of Lebanon.

Syria was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon in 2005 under international pressure following the assassination of Lebanese former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.

What is required from friendly Arab states that support Lebanon ... Is to exert maximum pressure on the Syrian regime to put a stop to its deep-seated greed in Lebanon and its persistent attempts to restore the time of hegemony, the statement said.

Saudi Arabia is a main ally of the pro-Western Lebanese government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, which said it would also boycott the meeting because of Syria's role in blocking the election of a new Lebanese president.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, attending the foreign ministers meeting in Damascus, said Iraq would ask Arab states to help achieve security and back its elected government.

We agree with our Arab brothers on the fundamentals, that Iraq must remain united and normal life must return, he said. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki cancelled plans to attend the summit because of a government crackdown against a Shi ite Muslim militia in southern Iraq.

Source : UNI