Saudi Islamic summit to discuss Myanmar violence

Islamabad, Aug 12 (IANS) Saudi Arabia will host an Islamic summit next week to discuss the issue of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, among other matters, and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will attend, his spokesman announced Sunday.

Saudi King Abdullah has invited the leaders of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to attend the conference in Mecca Aug 14-15, Xinhua reported.

The situation in Syria and Myanmar will figure high on the agenda, OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said.

Zardari will also hold bilateral meetings, presidential spokesman senator Farhatullah Babar added.

Saudi media has reported that the "extraordinary Islamic solidarity meeting" is aimed at ensuring unity as the Muslim world "faces dangers of fragmentation and sedition".

The foreign ministers of the OIC will meet Aug 13 to prepare for the summit.