The Arab summit meeting began on a low key note in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Thursday. Only 10 of the leaders of the 22-member Arab League are attending the conference amid a divide among the Arab countries on how to tackle the crisis in Syria. The Emir of Kuwait was the lone head of state to attend from the six GCC countries. Two explosions were heard in the capital Baghdad as the summit opened.

A senior Iraqi intelligence official said a mortar hit near the Iranian Embassy, just outside the Green Zone where the summit was being held. There has been no word on the second explosion and no casualties have been reported so far. The explosions during the summit have once again exposed the fragile security in Iraq.

Baghdad had hoped that the summit would mark its return to the Arab fold after two decades of isolation. But the absence of more than half of the Arab leaders have raised questions over the importance of the meet. Experts say it might be an indication of the increased Sunni-Shia tensions across the region in the aftermath of last year's Arab Spring uprisings. The fault lines have been exposed in Syria where a minority Shiite offshoot Alawite sect is ruling over the majority Sunnis On the other hand, the majority Shiites Bahrain are ruled over by the minority Sunnis.

United Nations Special envoy Kofi Annan has asked Syria to act immediately on the six point peace plan to end the bloodshed in the country. Opposition activists reported 17 deaths in the ongoing violence across the country on Tuesday.

Arab League has also prepared a draft resolution urging the Syrian Government and the opposition to respond positively to Annan’s efforts by halting the violence and starting a serious national dialogue.

Kofi Annan’s spokesman Ahmad Fawzi issued a statement in Geneva confirming Syria’s acceptance of the six point peace plan. He said Annan sees it as an important initial step to end the violence and bloodshed , provide aid to the affected people and create environment for a political dialogue.

The plan calls for a daily two hours ceasefire for relief and humanitarian aid.

The UN Special envoy held talks with Russian and Chinese leaders to seek support for his peace mission. He is scheduled to meet Arab leaders at the Arab summit and will report to Security Council on the progression Monday.

Meanwhile Arab League has prepared a draft resolution which calls for a dialogue between the Syrian regime and the opposition. It has also asked the opposition factions to unite.Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Arab leaders won’t ask President Assad to step down.

Arab Foreign Ministers assemble in Baghdad to discuss the developments in the region over the next two days in the run up to the Arab Summit on Thursday. Syria would be on top of agenda along with developments in Iran, Yemen, Sudan and the repercussions of Arab spring in the region. The Arab heads of States join formally for the Arab Summit on Thursday; the first such meeting in Iraq after a gap of two decades. 

AIR West Asia Correspondent has reports that after years of war, isolation and American occupation, Iraq prepares to hold the summit of Arab leaders in Baghdad. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said the summit is the most important event in the region in the wake of tensions in the region around Syria, Iran and Gulf states. Syrian crisis will be on the top of agenda. It would be a tightrope walk for Baghdad to show whether it is with its neighbouring Arab nations or with their arch rival Iran. The impact of Arab Spring, developments in Iran, Yemen , Sudan and the economy would be in focus during the summit. 

For the Iraqi leadership, the summit is an opportunity to set aside their sectarian divide and reassert itself as a political player in the Arab world. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki has said no efforts would be spared to make the summit a huge success