by Suzan Haidamous, Wang Xin

    BEIRUT, March 27 (Xinhua) -- As the Syria-host 20th Arab Summit is imminent, analysts in Beirut see little hope for breakthrough of the lasting Lebanese political crisis over its presidential election during the summit.

    LEBANON BOYCOTTS ARAB SUMMIT

    The Lebanese government decided to boycott the summit in Damascus on Tuesday, just one day after Saudi Arabia decided to lower the rank of its representation at the summit, which reflects tension between Saudi Arabia and Syria over the deep political crisis in Lebanon.

    The Lebanese government's statement following the boycott decision urged "Arab brothers to shepherd a sound Lebanese-Syrian relation" and help Lebanon spread its sovereignty over its territory.

    The boycott decision, according to the statement, was adopted in light of blocking presidential elections in Lebanon and in an expression of Lebanese discontentment with the existing presidential vacancy.

    Arab League (AL) Secretary General Amr Moussa said Tuesday after meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad that Lebanon's crisis will be discussed at the summit even if Lebanon is absent.

    But local political analyst Wassef Awada told Xinhua that "There won't be any change in the nature of the Lebanese crisis after the Arab summit convenes."

    However, it is very unimaginable that a summit without Lebanon can find a solution for Lebanese crisis.

    NO ESSENTIAL DEVELOPMENT EXPECTED

    Lebanon is currently facing the most serious political deadlock since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war. For the first time in its history, the presidential seat has been vacant since Nov. 24 of 2007 when former President Emile Lahoud stepped down.

    Lebanese political rival groups were unable to reach a breakthrough, despite intensive Arab efforts to resolve the crisis.

    "The chance for a breakthrough in the Lebanese crisis at the summit have become weak, with Saudi low-ranking presence and Lebanese absence." Arab diplomatic sources were quoted by local As-Safir Daily as saying.

    The case of Lebanon will be dealt with in Damascus summit the same way it was handled during the AL foreign minister meeting in Cairo on Jan. 6, the source added.

    AL initiative set at Cairo meeting a three-point plan to solve the Lebanese problem. The plan calls for the immediate election of Army commander Michel Suleiman as president, forming a national unity government, and the adoption of a new election Law.

    Moussa failed to implement the Arab plan following a number of trips and a series of meeting in Lebanon.

    Until now, no agreement was reached between the ruling coalition and the opposition to elect a new president for Lebanon.

    The opposition insisted on its demand of veto power in the new government, while the ruling coalition refused to discuss the shape of the government before electing a president.

    LEBANON CRISIS REFLECTS ARAB DIFFERENCES

    Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is in opposition bloc, postponed Tuesday a parliamentary session for presidential election scheduled for March 25 until April 22.

    It is the 17th postponement since Sept. 25 last year, which means there will be no Lebanese president to attend the Damascus summit.

    Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Abu Gheit warned on Monday that the turnout at the summit would be poor if the election session in Lebanon was postponed again.

    Egypt and Saudi Arabia have linked the level of their participation in Damascus summit to a solution to the presidential crisis in Lebanon.

    Saudi Arabia will be represented by its ambassador to the AL at the Damascus summit, while Egypt is sending its Minister of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

    "The conflict in tiny Lebanon reflects differences among the Arab world and even among some western countries," a Lebanese political source said anonymously, adding that Saudi Arabia and Egypt along with their western allies are backing the ruling coalition in Lebanon, while the opposition is backed by Syria and Iran.

    In the proxy war in Lebanon, both groups are accusing each other of not putting enough pressure on local Lebanese parties to reach a solution.

    Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said in TV interview Sunday that unless Syria and Saudi Arabia resolve their differences there will be no solution in Lebanon.

    But such differences do not seem to be resolved during the upcoming Damascus summit, especially when the top leaders of the two regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Egypt shun the summit.