Arab summit to discuss Yemen crisis

A two-day summit of the Arab League began today just days after a regional coalition led by Saudi Arabia launched air strikes against the Houthi rebels who have taken control of several major cities in Yemen.
Several Arab leaders, including Yemen's embattled president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, have arrived in Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the venue of the 26th annual Arab League Summit.
The crisis in Yemen is likely to dominate the Summit which will also discuss creation of an Arab force, a longtime goal that has eluded Arab nations in the 65 years since they signed a rarely used joint defense pact.

The summit will also discuss the Palestinian-Israeli issue and ways to activate the Arab peace initiative, critical developments in Syria and Libya, fighting terrorism among other issues.
Ahead of the summit, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his premier Ibrahim Mahlab have received a number of Arab leaders, among them were Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir.
Qatar Emir Sheik Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is expected to head his country's delegation at the summit, according to Qatar media.