South American, Arab nations seek 'alliance of civilisations'

Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, in a preparatory meeting Monday, called on participants to forge an "alliance of civilisations" that he said began 150 years ago with a strong wave of migration to South America from Syria and Libya.

Speaking to 21 delegations from the Arab League, the Palestinian Authority and 12 South American nations, Amorim said the summit would attempt to draw the two regions, which are "symbols of the south" together.

Despite its lofty goals, the summit, which will mark Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's debut on the world stage, has been largely ignored by the Arab nations: only five of the 22 members of the Arab League is represented by a head of state.

Arab diplomatic sources in Brasilia told AFP the United States had pressured several countries to stay away after the hosts turned down a US request for observer status at the summit.

Besides Talabani, Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas and the heads of state from Algeria, Djibouti and Qatar will also be present.