Arab summit postponed by year to March 2012 because of turmoil in region

A summit of Arab leaders has been postponed by a year to March 2012 because of turmoil in the region, but will still be held in Iraq as originally planned.

The decision was announced by Arab League chief Amr Mussa and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, following Gulf calls for the summit to be scrapped.

Mussa told Reuters new date was communicated to all Arab League members and there was agreement among them. Asked about the reason for the delay, Moussa said that it is upon the formal request of the government of Iraq.

In a statement, the League said that postponing the meeting until next March will ensure the summit would offer results sufficient for the ambitions of the Arab people for reform.

The decision "takes account of current events in several Arab countries," it said in a statement, adding that the postponement was aimed at ensuring a "heavy presence and representation at high levels."

Iraq has spent 450 million dollars preparing to host its first regular Arab summit since 1978, as Baghdad seeks to reassert its diplomatic position in the region.