The Arab League Summit opens in Mauritania

Arab leaders and top officials gathered in the Mauritanian capital to attend the opening of the Arab League Summit, where delegates aim to give a new push to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Chaired by Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, the summit opened on Monday inside a large tent in Nouakchott.

On Sunday, Arab foreign ministers voiced support for a new French initiative aimed at relaunching Israeli-Palestinian talks and holding an international conference for peace by year end.

Last year Arab League delegates promoted a plan to create a joint Arab military force against Islamic militants and spreading Iranian power. But by Sunday's summit these plans appeared to have stalled over divisions among Arab states and conflicts of interests.