Syria's deputy foreign minister Ahmed Arnous handed over the invitation to Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, one of six opposition ministers who resigned from the government in November 2006 but who has nonetheless still been fulfilling some of his official duties.

The Arab summit, scheduled for March 29-30 in Damascus, has been mired in controversy over Lebanon's participation and the presidential crisis it is facing because of a standoff between the opposition, backed by Syria,and the majority backed by the West and many Arab states.

The two heavyweights, which along with Syria and Lebanon are among the seven founding members of the Arab League, have linked the level of their participation at the summit to the election of a president in Beirut.


Agencies