Arab summit in Baghdad scrapped

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BAGHDAD, April 20 (UPI) -- Arab leaders are expected to meet in May to discuss the fate of their next summit after a Baghdad meeting was postponed, an Iraqi representative said.

The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council expressed outrage over Baghdad's criticism of the minority Sunni leadership in Bahrain, calling for the cancellation of an Arab League summit scheduled next month in Iraq. The tiny island kingdom is under scrutiny for its response to a Shiite uprising.

Qais al-Azzaw, Iraq's permanent representative to the Arab League, said Baghdad was expecting a Wednesday update on the plans for the summit, the Voices of Iraq news agency as saying.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said Tuesday from Cairo that he expected the May 10-11 meetings would be canceled in part because of the GCC concerns.

Arab leaders are considering Egypt and Qatar as possible alternative venues.

A meeting is set for May 15 to review the Arab League schedule and possible replacements for Moussa, who is leaving the Arab League to run for president of Egypt.