EGYPT PROPOSES FORMATION OF MUSLIM QUARTET ON SYRIA

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has presented a new proposal to solve the Syrian crisis. Addressing the Islamic Solidarity Summit at Al Safa Royal Palace in Makkah on August 15, Morsi suggested the formation of a group of four countries — Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and Egypt — to decide the political future of Syria. One of his preconditions for going ahead with the formation of such a quartet of Muslim countries is the departure of Bashar Assad. “He has to go ... That is the primary condition,” one of the diplomats quoted Morsi as saying. “The quartet will directly liaise with the people of Syria to hammer out a solution.”

If the Egyptian proposal on Syria gets off the ground, it will be the first serious Muslim attempt to solve the crisis in Syria. Many diplomats here at the summit have decried the Russian intervention in Muslim affairs. “They are unnecessarily poking their nose in our affairs and causing trouble,” they said. “We need to stop the Russians from interfering in our affairs.”