1.
GV Aircraft taxiis
0.05

2.
SV Assad & Sadat out of car
0.13

3.
SV PAN Gaddafi out of aircraft & being greeted by Sadat & Assad
0.27

4.
SV PAN The three Presidents away from aircraft
0.40

6.
SV The three enter with their delegates & sit at table ZOOM TO Caddafi
1.15

7.
CU ZOOM OUT Assad seated
1.26

8.
CU ZOOM OUT Sadat talking with Fawzy ZOOM OUT TO meeting in progress
1.34



Initials SGM/1404 SGM/1414



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The leaders of Libya, Egypt and Syria began their top level discussions on the Middle East situation in Cairo on Monday (5 Feb).

Libya's leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was the last man to arrive. He was met by President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and President Hafez Assad of Syria before the three men met as the 'Presidency Council of the Federation of Arab Republics' which links the three nations.

So far, there's been no official statement from the meeting, but officials in Cairo say the leaders have been thoroughly briefed on the situation at the Syrian front, the scene of frequent skirmishes. Officials also say the three men are almost certain to discuss the joint Arab Defence Council which ended in Cairo last week (3 Feb). That meeting resulted in a pledge of more Arab financial aid -- about GBP20 million - for Syria.

President Sadat and his colleagues are also likely to pay special attention to King Hussein's current visit to Washington. The Jordanian leader won't bend to demands by Palestinian guerrillas that they be allowed to return to Jordan.

SYNOPSIS: The leaders of Egypt and Syria welcomed Colonel Gaddafi of Libya on Monday when he arrived in Cairo for the start of top level discussions on the Middle East situation. The meeting should have begun nearly three weeks ago, but student disturbances in Egypt kept President Sadat busy until two days ago.

The three leaders are meeting as the 'Presidency Council of the Federation of Arab Republics' which is the controlling body linking the three nations.

Since the meeting began on Monday, there's been no official statement by any of the leaders, but officials say the men have been given a thorough briefing on the situation at the Syrian front, the scene of frequent skirmishes with Israel. Officials also say it's almost certain that the three leaders will discuss the outcome of the Joint Arab Defence Council, which ended in Cairo last week with a pledge of an extra GBP20 million worth of aid for Syria.

The first session of the meeting lasted for nearly two hours, and apart from discussions of the military and political situation in the Federation, the leaders are likely to talk about King Huseein's visit to Washington.