Arguments have broken out at the Arab foreign ministers meeting over the nomination of a new Arab League chief, with Qatar and Sudan among the most vocal opponents to Egypt's candidate.
Qatar has rejected the nomination of former Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, while Sudan proposed that the role should be rotated between various member states, putting forward its own candidate, former Foreign Minister Mostafa Othman.
Outgoing chief Nabil al-Araby earlier said he would not run for the post for another term. He was named Arab League chief in May 2011, succeeding Amr Moussa, who headed the league for 10 years.
Six Egyptians and only one Tunisian have held the post since the founding of the Arab League in 1945.
Relations between Egypt and Qatar have been poor in recent yars, with Qatar condemning the use of force by Egyptian security forces in 2013 as they crushed protests by supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
Morsi was enthusiastically supported by Qatar since his election to Egypt's top job in 2012.
Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Kuwait and Bahrain have expressed support for the Egyptian candidate, Aboul Gheit, according to news reports.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
