In case you’re wondering what kind of role Qatar is playing in the issues of this region….

Arab leaders arrive in Doha for summit

SEVERAL leaders started arriving in Doha yesterday to take part in an emergency Arab summit meeting called by Qatar today to discuss the Israeli offensive in Gaza.

Among them were Presidents Bashar al-Assad of Syria, Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, Abdul Aziz Bouteflika of Algeria, Ahmed Abdullah Sambi of the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros and Chairman of the Supreme Council in the Islamic Republic of Mauritanian Gen Mohamed Ould Abdul Aziz.

The visiting leaders and their accompanying delegations were received at Doha International Airport by HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani, and several senior officials.

On Wednesday, HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani pledged $250mn to help rebuild Gaza.

Earlier yesterday, the Emir joined other Gulf leaders in the Saudi capital Riyadh for an emergency meeting on the Gaza crisis.

Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah called the summit due to escalating tensions “resulting from the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people,” according to the official SPA news agency.

Saudi Arabia has accused Israel of “racist extermination” and sweeping human rights abuses.

King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said the issue would also be discussed at the Arab League economic summit in Kuwait on January 19.

The Kuwait summit would merge discussion of the Gaza issue with the previously scheduled economic agenda.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on a regional tour to try to secure a Gaza ceasefire, is due to address the meeting on Monday.

The Arab League has been preparing for the Kuwait summit for months to discuss economic issues and added a special session on Gaza to take place at foreign minister level. – Agencies

via Gulf Times – Qatar’s top-selling English daily newspaper – First Page.