January 26, 2007	Friday	Muharram 06, 1428

DAVOS, Jan 25: Middle East politics dominated Davos on Thursday as an Iraqi vice president branded the US-led occupation of Iraq an “idiot decision” amid high-level talks on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

His comments and the presence of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas overshadowed talks about business and economics, traditionally the heart of the agenda at the World Economic Forum.

President Abbas held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel before taking part in a public debate later in the day with Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Vice-Prime Minister Shimon Peres.

The meeting with Ms Merkel came amid renewed international efforts to jumpstart the dormant peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians.

“Germany is the head of the European Union, so we expect a lot from Germany, especially unilaterally and as chairman of the EU,” Mr Abbas said as he arrived for the hour-long meeting.

He was also scheduled to meet Jordan's King Abdullah II.

The political situation in Lebanon, where protests and strikes threaten to topple the government, had also looked likely to spill into Davos with the arrival of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

But as an international donors forum for Lebanon got under way in Paris, Davos forum staff said he had cancelled his trip at the last minute.

This theme of the economic forum—‘The shifting power equation’—seeks to take in everything from the growing geopolitical clout of Asia to the increasing influence of the Internet in business and information gathering.

A lack of snow in the run-up to this year's Forum has also helped highlight the issue of climate change. While green issues are in fashion, the star of celebrities at Davos seems to have fallen.

With the exception of pop icon Bono, a Davos regular, famous names from the world of entertainment have been scarce on the ground compared to previous years when the likes of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Sharon Stone stole the media spotlight from the corporate bigwigs.

British PM Tony Blair, making probably his last appearance at the forum, was to line up on Friday alongside Bono, South African President Thabo Mbeki, Microsoft chief Bill Gates and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to press home a message about delivering on the promises of aid to Africa.—AFP