Arab league summit to open in Baghdad on Thursday

By sagarmedia on March 28, 2012 | Edit

The first Arab League Summit in Iraq in for more than 2 decades opens in Baghdad on Thursday.The summit gives the nation, devastated by two wars, the chance to show it is stable and rebuilding, following the full withdrawal of US forces in December.
But that stability does not come easily. Some 100,000 security troops are deployed in Baghdad, effectively blockading the capital to protect it against extremists.
Iraq has seen a string of terrorist incidents ahead of its first league summit in 22 years. More than 40 people died in a series of car bombs last week alone.
Violent crackdowns on civilians and rebel forces by the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad is expected to dominate the summit’s agenda.
The Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Baghdad on Wednesday has also highlighted differences within the group.
Libya, which toppled the government of late leader Muammar Qadhafi last year, is demanding that the league harshly deal with the Assad regime.
But Syria’s neighbor Iraq has refused further intervention.
All eyes will be on the Arab league leaders to see if they can pull together and overcome their differences.