Qatar emir gives MENA summit go-ahead

Qatar's controversial emir said this weekend he was determined to convene the Middle East and North Africa economic summit (MENA) in Doha this November. "We will live up to our international obligations," Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani told Kuwaiti daily Al Rai Al Am.

The US wants all Arab countries to take part. But Saudi Arabia, Syria and the UAE have threatened to boycott if there is no progress in peace talks between Israel and Palestinians. Israel traditionally attends the summit, which was held last year in Egypt.

Jordan will attend if other Arab states do. Egypt and Morocco have adopted a wait-and-see policy. Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Libya have boycotted all three previous MENA summits. US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will head the US delegation.