SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt, March 31 (UPI) -- Egypt is leading efforts to hold an Arab summit following the cancellation of the confab in Tunisia over differences over reforms and peace with Israel.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah held talks in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik Wednesday to iron out the differences that sabotaged the summit, which was supposed to take place Monday and Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia reportedly welcomed Mubarak's offer to host the parley within two or three weeks, but Tunisia objected, stressing it is the current president of the Arab summit.
Mubarak also conferred consecutively with visiting Jordanian King Abdullah and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa
Egyptian Information Minister Safwat al-Sharif said the talks focused on the reasons behind the collapse of the summit, notably the political reforms the Arab countries are supposed to introduce to boost democracy and which some say are imposed from outside, a reference to a U.S. initiative for a Greater Middle East.
