Arab Foreign Ministers were meeting in Baghdad on Wednesday, just a day ahead of a summit, with the Syrian crisis was the top issue to be tackled.

Arab Foreign Ministers are meeting in Baghdad on Wednesday, just a day ahead of a summit, with the Syrian crisis is the top issue to be tackled.

"The Syrian subject will have a significant place in discussions," Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi said of Wednesday's meeting, adding: "I think that the ministers' meeting ... and the Arab summit will support" the plan of Annan, the UN-AL special envoy to Syria.

Annan's deputy Nasser al-Qudwa was also due in Baghdad to brief foreign ministers "on the latest from Kofi Annan's deliberations," Iraq's Deputy Foreign Minister Labid Abbawi said.

A draft resolution due to be debated by the foreign ministers calls on the "Syrian government and all opposition factions to deal positively with the envoy (Annan) by starting serious national dialogue."

It also urges the regime to "immediately stop all actions of violence and killing, protect Syrian civilians and guarantee the freedom of peaceful demonstrations for achieving demands of the Syrian people," according to a copy of the text, Agence France Press reported.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has said he did not think Arab leaders would call on Assad to step down during the summit on Thursday.

Annan proposal to Damascus calls on all sides in Syria to halt violence and to work on an inclusive political process, as well as a daily two-hour humanitarian ceasefire and access to all areas affected by the fighting in the country.