Saleh, Bouteflika call for comprehensive Arab summit

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and his Yemeni counterpart, Ali Abdullah Saleh have called for convening a comprehensive Arab summit, referring to the importance of Iraq's attendance to achieve the reconciliation and unity of the Arab people.

At the conclusion of Saleh's visit to Algeria, the two presidents confirmed yesterday their commitment to serious work to convene this summit to face the challenges facing the Arab states, adding that the two leaders have agreed to boost bilateral cooperation and encourage it in different domains.

They said that the Algerian - Yemeni joint committee is to meet before the end of this year to "implement the concluded agreements and to work out the executive programmes for this purpose."

The joint statement released at the end of Saleh's visit also emphasized the importance of Arab - African "coordination and a total understanding."

The statement also called for lifting UN sanctions from Iraq and supported the territorial integrity of Iraq.

Following his visit to Algeria the Yemeni president headed yesterday to Morocco on his tour of Arab North African countries.