NAM summit opens; Egypt seeks serious efforts for peace

The two-day 15th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit opened on Wednesday at this Red Sea resort city with the host Egypt calling for serious efforts and international solidarity for peace and development.

The two-day 15th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit opened on Wednesday at this Red Sea resort city with the host Egypt calling for serious efforts and international solidarity for peace and development.

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Inaugurating the summit of 118 developing nations, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak spoke about the international financial system and the need to tackle on war-footing challenges like climate change, food security and other issues.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Galani are among the NAM heads of state or government participating in the meet, billed as the largest gathering of nations outside the UN General Assembly.

The summit is likely to be overshadowed by talks between Singh and Gilani on Thursday against the backdrop of India seeking "visible response" and undertaking from Pakistan on bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks to justice.

At the opening session, Libyan leader Muammar Gadafi said there was a need to re-evaluate the international situation and order. He said that non-align is a term that has become vague now.

NAM needs a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, Gadafi said and suggested formulation of a Peace and Security Council within the grouping.