KHARTOUM, March 28: Arab leaders met in Sudan on Tuesday for a summit focused on the mounting chaos in Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but several of the most influential leaders in the region stayed away. Eight heads of states, including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Saudi King Abdullah, have skipped the meeting in Khartoum, where the government is under international pressure over the conflict in Darfur.

The annual meeting of the 22-member Arab League is taking place as Israel goes to the polls in a vote crucial for the future of Middle East peacemaking, while the Palestian parliament is set to approve the new Hamas-led government.

Leaders are expected to to push for a stronger role in shaping the future of Iraq to counter growing Iranian influence in the war-torn country, and urge continued funding for Palestinians in the face of international threats to cut off aid.

Sudanese authorities have adopted tight security measures for the one-day meeting, blocking roads around the Nile river bank venue and declaring a two-day holiday to keep people off the streets. Arab foreign ministers agreed at a two-day preparatory meeting on a number of draft resolutions addressing the situation in Iraq, the Arab-Israeli conflict and developments in Darfur.

The leaders are expected to endorse a draft resolution stressing the need for an Arab role in the future of Iraq and supporting efforts at reconciliation sponsored by the Arab League.

The move reflected anxiety on the part of Arab leaders ahead of expected talks between the United States and neighbouring Shiite Iran over the continued deadly violence in Iraq.

“I don’t think any dialogue taking place behind the Iraqis’ and Arabs’ backs can be fruitful,” Mussa said.

The draft also urges Iraqis to form a national unity government that would clear the way for the withdrawal of US-led forces.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday she was “quite certain” that direct talks would be held with Iran on the turmoil in Iraq, but did not say when.

As for Sudan’s demand for Arab support for its stance against international intervention in Darfur, a draft resolution has stipulated that Khartoum must approve any deployment of UN peacekeepers to replace a cash-strapped African Union force. But the draft resoluton fell short of an outright rejection of the UN plan adopted last week.

The combined effect of war and one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises in Darfur has left up to 300,000 people dead and an estimated 2.4 million displaced.

The Palestinian Authority meanwhile is hoping that Arab countries will open their coffers to help stave off a financial crisis after international donors threatened to halt funding to the Hamas-led government.

A draft resolution has called on the international community not to suspend funding to the Palestinian Authority once the Islamic movement Hamas takes over government and to “respect the democratic choice of the Palestinian people.”

The EU and the United States have threatened to sever all aid to the Palestinian Authority once Hamas, which they both list as a terrorist organisation, takes power.—AFP