Syria regime won't take part in Arab League meeting in Lebanon: secretary-general

The Syrian regime won't be participating in Saturday's Arab League meeting in Lebanon, according to the body's leader.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit in Beirut on Friday commented on which countries will be taking part in a meeting of foreign ministers from the organisation, Anadolu Agency reported.

The regime's absence comes despite recent steps towards restoring ties by states like Bahrain, whose new ambassador to Damascus presented his credentials last month.

"All Arab countries will participate in the consultative meeting of the Arab foreign ministers on Saturday, except Syria whose membership is frozen," Aboul Gheit said.

He explained that each minister in attendance will put forward matters for consideration.

The Syrian regime, which is headed  by dictator Bashar Al-Assad, was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 following its violent repression of protests.

Arab nations like the UAE and Jordan have recently begun rebuilding their relationship with the regime.

The Emirates welcomed Assad in March for his first visit to an Arab country since Syria's conflict broke out a decade ago.

The Arab League foreign ministers' meeting comes ahead of an expected yearly summit – the organisation's first since 2019 given the coronavirus pandemic.

The summit is scheduled to be hosted by Algeria in November.

The Arab League is made up of 22 states, including the Syrian regime.