Report: Syria Rejected Egyptian Proposal to Form Arab League Committee on Lebanon

Egypt has suggested the formation of an Arab League committee to follow up developments in Lebanon but Syria rejected, pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported Wednesday.

Al-Hayat said the suggestion was made by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit during the meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesday.

The newspaper quoted an Arab source as saying that Abul Gheit told the ministers it was not acceptable for the Arab League to be absent from initiatives aimed at ending the Lebanese crisis.

"That's why an Arab League committee should be formed," the Egyptian FM told the conferees.

However, the Syrian foreign minister's deputy, Faisal al-Miqdad, rejected the proposal, asking for the support of the Syrian-Saudi initiative that collapsed this month leading to the resignation of 11 ministers from the Lebanese cabinet, the source said.