Arab leaders gather in Egypt on Wednesday to discuss economic integration and trade, after recent political developments caused instability in the region.
The summit comes after an uprising in Tunisia resulted in the ousting of President Zine el-Abidine ben Ali last week, as well as the political crisis in Lebanon and the steps towards the division of Sudan into two countries, DPA reported.
Several leaders arrived in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh including Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, to update the leaders after the referendum was held last week.
Tunisian Foreign Minister Kamal Morjane, who was re-appointed in the new government, headed his delegation.
Caretaker prime minister Saad Hariri assigned Economy Minister Mohammed Safadi to head the Lebanese delegation to the summit.
Egypt's President Hosny Mubarak will head the second Economic, Development and Social summit, which will discuss initiatives proposed two years ago in Kuwait to foster economic regional integration.