Key leaders stay away from Arab summit

A two-day Arab summit opened today in the Sudanese capital Khartoum with several key leaders, including regional heavyweights President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, staying away.

Their absence is certain to diminish the value of any resolutions adopted by the summit.

These include sensitive issues such as Iraq and the future of Mideast peace following the landslide victory of the militant Hamas group in January’s Palestinian elections.