27/03/2008 Syria's press on Thursday hailed the imminent summit of Arab leaders a success due to the absence of US influence, as heads of state from several regional US-friendly allies boycott the event. "It is enough for the Arab summit in Damascus that the American ghost is banished... it is enough that for the first time all its decisions and agreements will be free of the American virus," the state-owned daily Al-Thawra wrote in an editorial.
 
The ruling party mouthpiece Al-Baath said the summit had managed to avoid external influence. "The Damascus summit has succeeded in overcoming all sorts of pressures, starting from the statements of US officials and their desire to not hold the summit, or their desire for non participation," Al-Baath wrote.
 
"The US administration has failed in its influence or its threats... Syria has managed a new opening in the wall that the US administration has tried to build in the face of any joint Arab work," it continued.
 
Syria hosts its first Arab summit this weekend facing a boycott by heads of state from a number of regional heavyweights which blame Damascus for the political crisis gripping neighboring Lebanon.
 
Egypt and Saudi Arabia will send only low-level delegations to the meeting in Damascus on Saturday and Sunday while diplomatic sources said Jordan and Morocco would also be represented by lower-level officials. Lebanon has boycotted the event.
 
The United States, which backs the unconstitutional government of Fouad Saniora, last week called for Arab countries to reflect before deciding to participate in the summit and also accused Damascus of paralyzing Lebanese politics.