Introduction to the evening news 29-03-2012

At Baghdad’s summit, the absent country was actually the most present: Syria. As for the audience, it varied between heads of state and ambassadors; Saudi Arabia for instance was represented by its ambassador to the Arab League.        

As the meeting started, a mortar hit an area not far from the summit's venue.       

Besides high hopes to put Iraq back on the Arab map, ambitions are not high as to the outcomes of this summit. As the summit was ongoing in Baghdad, Syrian President Bashar Assad announced that Syria will spare no effort to ensure the success of international envoy Kofi Annan's peace mission.        

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Russia is pressuring the Syrian National Council to formally accept Annan’s proposals that do not meet its request for Assad to step down.         

In Lebanon, the electricity issue passed unnoticed in yesterday’s cabinet session and was not subject to voting.         

Herein lies the question: Will disputes erupt again on the details? The item was passed but faced quite a few objections. The lesson will be drawn for Monday’s meeting of the committee headed by PM Mikati aimed at implementing the decision taken.