The Arab League is a regional organisation of 22 Arab nations - established with the main goal of fostering closer relations between them.

But this week's Arab league summit set to be hosted by Libya is being overshadowed by serious political rows between Muammer Qaddafi, the Libyan leader, and other key Arab leaders.

The long list of absentees for the summit is said to include Saudi Arabia's king, the presidents of Egypt, Yemen, Lebanon, and the sultan of Oman.

Mike Hanna reports from Sirte, Libya, where the issue of Palestine among others is shedding light on growing divisions between between the bloc.

[March 25, 2010]