Arab summit concludes with strong appeal for regional peace and unity

Referring to the Yemen crisis, the AL applied stern words to accuse Iran of supporting the Shiite Houthi rebels who ousted Yemen's government and frequently launched missile attacks on Saudi Arabia.

It voiced support for the Saudi-led Arab coalition's operations in Yemen to preserve the country's sovereignty and integrity, and demanded opening key ports and airports for aids to enter Yemen so as to ease the world's most serious humanitarian crisis there such as famine and the outbreak of cholera.

The one-day summit was held on Sunday in the eastern Saudi city of Dhahran. Tunisia is scheduled to hold the 30th AL Summit.

The African Union Commission on Sunday also called on world powers to undertake international efforts to find lasting solutions to the Syrian civil war that respect the country's territorial integrity and serves the interests of Syrian people.

In a statement, it said "Africa expects the United Nations Security Council members, especially those that are permanent, to put aside their differences and spare no efforts in the pursuit of global peace and humanity's common good, in line with the responsibilities conferred upon them by the United Nations Charter".

"Any response" to the alleged poison gas attack "ought to be based on incontrovertible evidence gathered by a competent, independent and credible entity and comply strictly with international law, including the primacy of the UNSC for any recourse to force", it said.

Xinhua - Reuters