CAIRO: EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Monday discussed a proposal to hold an Arab, African and European summit to discuss Middle East developments, in talks with Arab League chief Amr Moussa. "One of the proposals being discussed is how we all work collaboratively together in terms of the African Union, the Arab League and the EU," Ashton told reporters after her talks with Moussa in Cairo. "As well as the discussions about a broader summit-style meeting which were discussed at the European Union, we have also wanted to discuss the practical ways in which we can collaborate in the future," she said. "We want to be partners in seeing a future transition with democracy, economic growth and development at the roots of what is happening," she said. Ashton met Egyptian officials Sunday. She expressed the EU's support for Egypt's democratic process. The region has been swept by a wave of protests sparked by popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt that overthrew two leaders who had been in power for decades. In Bahrain, a contingent of Gulf troops arrived in the unrest-wracked kingdom, while clashes have also broken out in Yemen, Oman, Jordan and Morocco. In Libya, fighting that erupted on Feb. 15 between rebels and the regime of Moammar Kadhafi has left thousands dead, rights groups said. Ashton said a no-fly zone over Libya should be on the table at the proposed tripartite summit. The Arab League has asked the UN to impose the flight ban to try to stop Qaddafi's airstrikes. Ashton did not set a date for the proposed meeting.
