AFP/Riyadh
Saudi Arabia is to host a meeting of foreign ministers from several Arab states to discuss the Syrian conflict and the rise of Islamic State jihadists, Egypt's foreign ministry announced on Saturday.
It said Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were to take part in Sunday's talks.
The meeting will address "the growing presence in Iraq and Syria of extremists, notably the Islamic State (IS)," the ministry said in a statement.
It added that the rise of IS meant the "search for a political solution to the Syria crisis was needed more than ever".
Since declaring a "caliphate" in June. IS has conducted a lightning offensive, taking control of territory straddling Iraq and Syria.
The jihadists sparked worldwide horror and condemnation this week when they released a video showing the beheading of US journalist James Foley.
