Arab League Summit begins in Kuwait

As the annual Arab League summit begins in Kuwait Tuesday. Arab leaders are struggling with an array of foreign policy disputes and regional crises such as Syria's war and political strife in the biggest Arab state, Egypt.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SHEIKH SABAH AL-AHMED AL-SABAH, KUWAIT'S EMIR, SAYING: (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER SHOTS OF AUDIENCE)

"Our summit is taking place at a time when enormous dangers are taking place in the world and in our region for what it represents from an accumulation of challenges and dangers that we are confronting. This forces upon us the responsibility to make a greater effort towards reassessing the choice of path that guarantees joint Arab action that can meet our aspirations."

The annual summit of the 22-member Arab League heard an appeal from the head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition who chided Arab states for not agreeing to give the coalition Syria's seat. So far, Syria's seat at the summit is vacant.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arab