Leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrial nations and about 20 Arab countries across North Africa and the Middle East are scheduled to meet on Saturday here to discuss reforms in the Arab world as part of Washington's Greater Middle East Initiative.

They are expected to discuss political and economic reforms proposed by Washington and how to boost exchanges and cooperation between the Arab world and the G8 at the one-day ministerial "Forum for the Future," which is to be co-hosted by Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa and his US counterpart, Colin Powell.

Powell, on his way to the Moroccan capital, hoped the meeting will be able to push ahead Washington's initiative, saying "it will be something that will gain momentum as we go further."

Iran and Libya refused to attend the forum.

Bush unveiled the Greater Middle East Initiate on reform in theArab world in June at the G8 summit.

G8 groups the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia.

The Greater Middle East Initiative has drawn widespread criticism. Even Washington's close allies, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, say they do not want reforms imposed by the outside world and thatthe Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be resolved before any reform initiative could be implemented.

Countries to be represented at the forum include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Source: Xinhua