Omly 11 of the 22 heads of Arab states are attending the Arab summit in Damascus. While it is common for some Arab heads of state not to attend Arab Summits, a 50 percent turnout is unusually low and indicates a serious rift in inter-Arab politics. The summit has been opened by Syria's President Assad but, at the same time, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal held a press conference in Riyadh criticising Syria's policy in Lebanon. "As presidents and princes gathered here on Saturday, the Saudi foreign minister, Saud al-Faisal, speaking in Riyadh, accused Syria of refusing to abide by Arab League decisions on Lebanon and called for member states to punish it. "
