CAIRO
Turkish President Abdullah Gul attended the opening of the 12th leaders' summit of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Egypt on Wednesday.
OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu will make the opening remarks of the summit held under the title "the Muslim world: new challenges and opportunities".
Following the remarks of Ihsanoglu, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi will address leaders.
During the opening session, President Gul will present a "progress report" as the head of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation. He will also attend a special session on settlements in Palestine.
Heads of state and government of 40 of 56 OIC members states are attending the summit.
President Dervis Eroglu is representing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) which is an observer country, while Syria is not represented as its membership was suspended.
TRNC is attending OIC meeting for the first time in presidential level.
Palestine, Syria, Mali, Myanmar Muslims and Islamophobia will be top agenda items of the summit which will last for two days.
Palestinian and Iranian leaders meet in Cairo
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad met in Cairo.
They discussed the recent developments about Palestine issue.
Palestinian Ambassador in Cairo Berekat el-Ferra told AA that the two leaders discussed the economic crisis in Palestine, consensus talks among Palestinian groups besides the issues on the agenda of OIC summit.
