Despite rigorous security arrangements, a mortar round landed on the edge of the fortified Green Zone as the summit got under way, Al-Jazeera Television reported. A police official said the mortar that landed near the Iranian Embassy did not cause any casualties, though some of the windows of the building were broken.
Nine heads of state and UN chief Ban Ki-moon were among those who attended the opening of the summit in the former Republican Palace, the BBC said. The city was effectively locked down for the occasion, with 100,000 security forces on alert and roads, the air space and mobile networks shut down. Government spent over $500 million (about FCFA 246.1 billion) to refurbish major hotels, summit venues and infrastructure.
The Telegraph newspaper reported that the meeting was expected to issue a statement on Syria. Earlier on Wednesday, the Syrian government warned that since its membership was suspended from the body, it will only deal with Arab countries on individual basis. Consequently, it said it will not entertain any initiative by the Arab League at any level, a spokesman for the government, Jihad Makdisssi, said in a statement released to journalists. Syria blames the unrest on foreign-backed militants that it says have killed about 3,000 members of the security forces.
The UN-Arab League plan envisages a UN-monitored end to fighting, troop pull out from opposition areas and access to humanitarian services. Syria agreed to the initiative on Tuesday but violence has continued. Meanwhile, the US government has been urging countries to maintain pressure on the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
A final message endorsed by Arab leaders was expected to express support for the diplomatic mission of United Nations envoy to the Arab League, Kofi Annan. The message calls on the Syrian government and opposition to engage in serious national dialogue.
