The Arab League called on Thursday for an international probe into alleged crimes by Israeli forces against Palestinians following mass protests on the Gaza border that saw dozens of demonstrators killed.

The 149th session of the Council of the Arab League at the Level of Permanent Representatives kicked off at the Arab League General Secretariat headquarters here on Sunday.

The head of the Arab League warned that Saleh's killing following the collapse of his uneasy alliance with the rebels threatens an "explosion in the security situation" in the war-ravaged country.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told his US counterpart Rex Tillerson that it was "necessary to preserve the historical and legal status of Jerusalem and refrain from any decision that aims to change that status".

The Arab League held an extraordinary general meeting on Sunday in Cairo at the request of Saudi Arabia, which called the ministerial-level session to discuss "violations" by its rival Iran.

Regional tensions have risen in recent weeks between Saudi Arabia and Iran over Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's surprise resignation and after an escalation in Yemen's conflict.

Lebanon's foreign minister will not attend an extraordinary Arab League meeting on Sunday called by Saudi Arabia to discuss "violations" committed by Iran, a ministry source told AFP.

Speaking to the official Kuwaiti news agency KUNA, Khaled al-Jarallah said Kuwait, the host, has not yet sent invitations to GCC leaders for the summit,

Doha ready for talks; Qatar against terrorism in all its types and forms, says Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

The Arab League on Sunday accused Israel of "playing with fire" with new security measures at a highly sensitive Jerusalem holy site.

Qatar supports peace and justice and spends millions on educating and creating jobs in developing countries, offering more than 500 jobs to help adults, Qatar's Permanent Representative to the Arab League, Saif bin Muqaddam al-Buainain, has said.

The assistant director-general of the Arab League Educational Cultural and Scientific Organisation has received a message from HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed bin Abdul Wahed al-Hammadi.