Islamic world leaders seek to bridge differences

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is hosting more than 30 heads of state and governments from Islamic countries in Istanbul for a summit aimed at overcoming differences in the Muslim world. 

The two-day summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, begins today and ends on Friday with a news conference by President Erdogan. 

Prominent guests at the meeting include Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, whose countries find themselves on opposing sides in the Syria and Yemen conflicts. 

Turkey has said it wants to use the meeting to narrow differences between the world's estimated one-point-seven billion Muslims. 

However, the gathering risks being overshadowed by disputes on issues ranging from Syria to Yemen. 

Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said the summit is being held at a time when the Islamic world is experiencing many disputes within itself.  

But Turkey's own policies in the Middle East have been facing critical scrutiny, with several Muslim states objecting to the backing of rebels in Syria  by its government.


SOURCE: ALJAZEERA