A new structure for Arab joint action on the table

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended the opening of the Arab extraordinary summit that started in the Libyan city of Sirte on Saturday.

Chairing the opening session, the Libyan President Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi welcomed the Arab leaders and said that the summit would discuss a new structure for Arab joint action.

He added that a five-member committee under his chairmanship was formed during the last summit in Sirte to oversee implementation of the new structure.

Arab League's Secretary General Amr Musa stressed that the League rejects any attempts to marginalise its role or the collective Arab opinion on pressing topics such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, as well as the situation in Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan and Mauritania.

Sheikh Mohammed paid a visit to Egyptian President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak in his place of residence in Sirte on Sunday.

The two leaders exchanged views on the expected results of the Arab extraordinary summit and hoped that such outcome would serve development and progress in the Arab world.

The meeting was attended by UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abu Al Gheit as well as a number of top Emirati and Egyptian officials.

Sheikh Mohammed also visited President Bashar Al Assad of Syria on Sunday.

The meeting, which was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reviewed a number of bilateral and Arab issues of mutual interest and ambitions towards outcome of the summit. The meeting was also attended by a number of top Emirati and Syrian officials.

On Saturday, Sheikh Mohammed received in Sirte the Bahraini Deputy Prime Minister and the head of the Bahraini delegation to the Arab-African Summit Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa.

The Bahraini official conveyed to Sheikh Mohammed the greetings of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State Reem Ibrahim Al Hashimi and a number of senior officials.

Sheikh Mohammed also toured the Ouagadougou folklore market to acquaint himself with the Libyan handicrafts, costumes and local cuisines.

He made the visit to the heritage market at the end of the Arab extraordinary summit.

Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied by Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Reem Ibrahim Al Hashimi and a number of officials.

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