Opening the conference, Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal of host Saudi Arabia said: "We categorically reject the recent threats against Syria," which was present at the meeting.

He said US threats against Syria "will only lead to a new cycle of trouble and violence in the region.

"We call on the United States to opt for dialogue with Syria," Prince Saud told the participants before they headed into closed-door talks.

The United States in recent weeks has accused Syria of possessing chemical weapons, smuggling military materiel into Iraq and providing safe haven to Saddam's associates.

An Arab diplomat had earlier said the conference could spill over into Saturday because of "minor differences."

The differences relate to the status of the Kurds in the north, Turkish demands on oil from the city of Kirkuk and the identity of certain figures tipped to become members of a future Iraqi government, the diplomat said.

The countries participating in the meeting are Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey.

SPACE.WIRE