The 21st Arab League (AL) summit opened here on Monday to discuss a package of major issues, including the Palestinian cause, the peace process in the Middle East, improvement of inter-Arab relations and the situation in Sudan in light of the International Criminal Court's (ICC's) arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The summit is gathering Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, United Arab Emirates President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, among other regional leaders.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, along with leaders of five other AL member states, are staying away from the summit.

Arab League leaders pose for a group photo prior to the open session of the Arab summit in Doha, capital of Qatar, on Monday, March 30, 2009. The 21 Arab League Summit opened in Doha Monday
The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of Arab League (AL) Amr Moussa, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will address the opening session of the summit.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas prepares for a group photo prior to the open session of the Arab summit in Doha, capital of Qatar, on Monday, March 30, 2009. The 21 Arab League Summit opened in Doha Monday
Moussa said here on Sunday that Arab countries have reached consensus on rejecting the ICC's arrest warrant for al-Bashir for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

The 21 Arab League Summit opens in Doha, capital of Qatar, on March 30, 2009
Source:Xinhua