The Arab League has an annual summit usually attended by the heads of state. This year the summit will take place in Damascus, on the 29th and 30th of March.
Earlier this week Saudi Arabia announced that King Abdullah will not be attending the Arab summit instead it will be attended by its Arab league ambassador. Egypt then announced that it will only be sending a low level diplomat. Lebanon than followed announcing that it will be absent from the summit.
Syria has accused the U.S. of having its hands in the fact that Lebanon is not participating, and also influencing its other allies, (Egypt and Saudi Arabia) which are in some level boycotting/protesting the Damascus summit.
On the other hand Egypt and Saudi Arabia have said that Syria is behind political crisis in Lebanon. Beirut has been unable to agree on a president since late November. Two days ago Beirut delayed its presidential elections from March 25 to April 22, the 17 delay in this process. This has been happening in the shadow of a string of assassinations of anti-Syria politicians.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia also point to Damascus’ link to Iran and Hezbollah.
