Syrian president will not attend Arab summit in Baghdad after invitation triggers divisions

DAMASCUS: Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa volition not be an Arab League acme successful Iraq this week and the country's delegation volition beryllium headed by the overseas minister, the president's bureau said Tuesday.A abbreviated connection released by the bureau of President Ahmad al-Sharaa did not springiness a crushed wherefore helium volition not be the acme but an invitation by the Iraqi authorities past period trigged crisp governmental divisions successful Iraq.

The acme is scheduled to beryllium held successful Baghdad connected Saturday. Al-Sharaa and his interim authorities successful Syria person been scrambling to found ties with countries crossed the Middle East successful a bid to easiness skepticism astir his erstwhile ties to al-Qaida and to person Washington to assistance crippling economical sanctions connected the battered country.

Attending the Arab Summit would person been a large symbolic diplomatic triumph for Damascus arsenic well, arsenic Al-Sharaa struggles to woody with opponents successful the countries, mostly from non-Sunni Muslim number groups, arsenic helium tries to exert authorities authorization crossed Syria. Al-Sharaa took powerfulness aft starring a lightning rebel violative that unseated his predecessor, Bashar Assad, successful December. Since then, helium has positioned himself arsenic a statesman aiming to unite and rebuild his state aft astir 14 years of civilian war, but his past arsenic a Sunni Islamist militant has near galore - including Shiite groups successful Iraq - wary. Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al-Qaida insurgents battling U.S. forces successful Iraq aft the U.S.-led penetration successful 2003 and inactive faces a warrant for his apprehension connected coercion char...