Public rifts at Arab summit likely to satisfy Iran and Syria

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah (C), Kuwait's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah al Khalid al Sabah (R) and Arab League Secretary General Nabil al Arabi (L) attend the closing session of the 25th Arab Summit in Bayan Palace, Kuwait March 26, 2014. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Arab leaders at odds over supporting Islamists in upheavals across the Middle East have proved in no mood to reconcile at a summit this week, an outcome likely to satisfy Syria and Iran in their rivalry with regional heavyweights Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Heads of state assembled in Kuwait publicly acknowledged they needed to end quarrels that are exacerbating an already catastrophic war in Syria as well as turmoil in Egypt and Iraq.