Saudi Arabia will not send King Abdullah or Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal to an Arab summit in Damascus later this week, Riyadh's ambassador to the Arab League Ahmad Qattan said Monday. Qattan, speaking on the margins of a preparatory meeting, said he would lead his country's delegation to the March 29-30 summit instead.
The decision to send the relatively low-ranking diplomat reflects the strained relations between Riyadh and Damascus over the deep political deadlock in Lebanon.
Syria and its ally Iran back the Lebanese opposition led by Hizbullah. Saudi Arabia backs the cabinet of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.
