Egypt and Morocco still undecided about Mena

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stated that he would only decide at the last minute whether Egypt would take part in the Middle East and North Africa economic conference due to be held in Doha next month.

"We will monitor the situation until the last minute and we will decide three or four days before the conference," Mubarak told the Arabic London-based daily Al Hayat. "A miracle might happen, but what is the use of holding a conference if all parties are turning their backs on each other," he added.

Meanwhile, Morocco has also expressed doubts about whether it will take part in Mena conference. A senior economic adviser to King Hassan of Morocco told an Israeli paper that in the absence of progress in the Middle East peace process, Morocco was on standby for Mena.