News In Brief

Radical heads of state boycott Islamic summit

Most radical Muslim heads of state boycotted the Islamic Conference Organization or downgraded representation to the three-day summit meeting which opened Monday, Moroccan organizers said.

''With most of the radicals out, this is going to be a show of force by the moderates, with Saudi Arabia in the lead,'' one conference source said. Sources said they expected the meeting to be devoted to moderate states' attempts to tone down a confrontation with the US on the Middle East.

King Fahd of Saudi Arabia was among the most prominent heads of state at the meeting. Syrian President Hafez Assad and King Hussein of Jordan stayed away.