More world leaders arrive in Tehran for NAM summit

press tv

More world leaders and high-ranking officials are arriving in the Iranian capital Tehran to participate the 16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Jordan’s Prince Hassan bin Talal and Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe are among the leaders who have landed in Tehran during the Wednesday evening. Earlier in the day, acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Syrian Prime Minister Wael Nader al-Halqi, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Ruler of the United Arab Emirates’ Umm Al Quwain state Sheikh Saud bin Rashid al-Mu’alla and Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon had arrived in the city to attend the conference. The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has also participated in the Tehran summit despite strong opposition from the US and Israel. Meanwhile the two-day ministerial meeting of the 16th Summit of the NAM wrapped up on Wednesday evening in the Iranian capital. Iran’s foreign ministry says more delegations are expected to arrive throughout the day. About 55 delegations will be represented at the level of foreign minister. More than 100 countries are partaking in the NAM meeting which kicked off at the expert level in Tehran on Sunday. At the opening ceremony of the NAM expert-level meeting, Iran assumed the rotating presidency of the movement for three years. Egypt's Ambassador to the United Nations Mootaz Khalil formally handed over the presidency to Iran.