Arab League head to be chosen by ballot on Sunday

Khalifa Gab Allah
Mon, 09/05/2011

Member states of the Arab League will choose a new secretary general by ballot during Sunday’s emergency meeting of foreign ministers, due to differences between Egypt and Qatar over the preferred candidate, according to sources at the organization.

Egypt has nominated Mostafa al-Fiqqi for the post, while Qatar has nominated Abdulrahman al-Attiyah.

The sources explained that the winner must obtain a two-thirds majority in the ballot.

Certain political forces in the Arab world had previously suggested postponing the vote until the uprisings witnessed by various Arab countries have come to an end, thus giving Arab leaders more time to nominate candidates.

The sources said such a move could be adopted if the member states submitted an official request to the various foreign ministers. However, so far, no state had taken this step.

The sources also said that the foreign ministers would discuss in their closed meetings the volatile situations in Syria, Libya and Yemen, as well as following up on the latest Arab mediation efforts to end the peaceful demonstrations and avoid further foreign interference in the Arab region.

Source: al-Masry al-Youm.
Link: http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/430240.