1.
SV Ismail Fahmi, Egypt's Foreign Minister arriving.
0.08

2.
SV Mr. Farouk Kaddoumi of PLO arrives.
0.16

3.
SV Syrian Foreign Minister, Abdul Halim Khaddam arriving.
0.24

4.
CU INT Fahmi entering conference hall with other delegates.
0.29

5.
SV Newsmen around conference hall door.
0.30

6.
GV PAN Around delegates at table.
0.37

7.
SV PAN FROM Delegates to Syrian Foreign Minister.
0.40

8.
GV ZOOM IN TO Arab League Secretary Mahma to Riad PAN ACROSS TO General Mohammed Ali Fahmi, Chief of Staff of Armed Forces.
0.50

9.
GV Conference table.
0.56



Initials VS 3.35



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Arab leaders are to meet in Cairo in October for a full-scale summit that is expected to examine the Lebanese crisis in detail and also consolidate Arab solidarity. Foreign ministers or their deputies made the decision at a meeting in the Egyptian capital on Saturday (4 September).

SYNOPSIS: The suggestion came from Kuwaiti delegates and the acceptance of the proposal surprised observers because of the continuing differences between some Arab countries. The continuing feud between Syria and Egypt over Syria's continued military involvement in the Lebanon had cast doubts over the possibilities of a summit being staged. If it is held, it will be the first Arab summit for two years.

The foreign ministers represented the 20 countries which belong to the Arab League, and the Palestine Liberation Organisation was also represented. They decided that the October meeting would give the League a chance to continue its efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Lebanon.

The Egyptian Chief of Staff, Mohammed Ali Fahmi, also called for an increase in the league's peacekeeping forces in Lebanon. He's quoted as saying he hoped for a 10,000 strong force. At present only about 2,000 troops from four Arab nations are in the area.