Arab leaders faced with the fallout from Zionist's assassination of Palestinian Islamist leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin will have little time for US-inspired plans for reform when they meet in Tunisia next week. Arab leaders will be forced, not only to respond to a likely escalation of the Zionist-Palestinian conflict, but also cope with security concerns arising from a wave of popular anger over Monday's killing in Gaza City, analysts say.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa, who was already in Tunis to prepare for the March 29-30 summit, made it clear Monday that the Arab-Zionist conflict now topped the agenda. "This assassination has already cast a shadow over the summit and the consequences of the martyrdom of Sheikh Yassin will be at the heart of discussions of the participating heads of state," Mussa said in a statement.

Latest IT News The art of Italian cooking recipes is a fun and easy way to learn about using new and varied food items and natural herbs reliance you may have never used before for lack of knowledge and thus, begin on an interesting new gastronomical journey to tickle your taste buds, heighten your senses and change the moods for everyone around. News Website Template. All content on this website is © Copyright 2000-2010 - All Rights Reserved Website template powered by VooWeb.com News Website Template The content on this site may not be reused or republished. News Website Template

Sources close to the league said the Palestinian issue had originally been third on the agenda, following the issue of reform and efforts to restore sovereignty to Iraqis. Though Mussa did not say what would happen to debate on reform, Egyptian analyst Abdel Moneim Saeed expected "the reform agenda will not take much time, if any" at the summit. Arab governments had hoped to agree on a framework for reform of both Arab League institutions, including proposals for an Arab parliament and court of justice, as well as reform of Arab political systems, he said. Guidelines discussed in the Egyptian city of Alexandria last week,  were to have been presented at the summit, he added. But nothing is certain now, with Arab leaders at the summit likely to be distracted by the probability of a new escalation of Palestinian suicide bombings and heavy Israeli retaliation, he added.

Saudi analyst Daud al-Sheryan said, because of the assassination, Arab leaders will have to be firmer toward the United States and ask it for guarantees that Zionist will not push toward an escalation. In addition, Saeed pointed out that Arab governments were forced to deploy large numbers of police to control angry protests in Egyptian, Jordanian and other Arab cities.

The ministers, who will meet again in Tunisia just before Monday's summit, had hoped in Cairo to draft a joint plan for reform, which would amount to a counter-proposal to Washington's initiative. They had hoped to find a way to respond to US demands for change while staying in power.