The heads of state of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Libya, Iraq and Mauritania will stay away from the Arab summit in Beirut, instead sending senior delegates, officials in those states announced.
According to AFP, despite no official statements from Riyadh, Saudi King Fahd is also expected to stay at home.
Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the kingdom's de facto ruler due is inclined to head the Saudi delegation at the summit where his Middle East peace proposal tops the agenda.
Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who underwent eye surgery last Thursday, will be represented by his brother, First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, according to an official statement in Kuwait.
Qatar's Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is sending his Prime Minister Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani to represent him in Beirut at the summit, the royal palace announced in Doha. It gave no explanation for the Qatari ruler's decision.
UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan is also not going to Beirut. An official statement in Abu Dhabi said the UAE delegation to the summit would be led by the vice president, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashed al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai who also serves as the UAE's prime minister.
Oman's Sultan Qaboos is delegating Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs Fahd bin Mahmud al-Said to the summit, according to a statement from the sultan's court in Muscat.
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa had on Monday still not confirmed whether he would go to Beirut.
Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi confirmed Monday that he would not attend the upcoming Arab summit.
In Nouakchott, an official source said Mauritanian Prime Minister Sheikh El-Avia Ould Mohamed Khouna would represent President Maaouya Ould Taya, whose country is only one of three, with Egypt and Jordan, to have diplomatic relations with Israel.
The attendance of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat remained uncertain Tuesday morning. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
