Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Syria was part of the problem in Lebanon, calling on the Syrian leadership to help resolve the 15-month crisis before hosting an Arab summit next month. "The summit will be held in Syria and Syria is linked to the Lebanese problem. Therefore I hope that Syria would solve the problem," Mubarak said in comments aired on Al Arabiya television on Tuesday.
"We should not be (in Damascus) resolving a problem that Syria is a party to," Mubarak said during a visit to Bahrain. Al Arabiya said Mubarak's remarks were originally broadcast by Bahraini television.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said last week the summit would collapse if Lebanon remained without a president because of a power struggle between his Egyptian-and Saudi-backed government against and the opposition led by Hizbullah, supported by Syria and Iran.
"I hope the Arab summit is held with full force (attendance). But there are problems such as the Lebanon problem which is a fundamental one," said Mubarak.
