An emergency Islamic summit will be held in the Saudi holy city of Mecca on Dec. 7-8, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported here Friday.

The summit will focus on closing Islamic ranks, relinquishing differences and facing challenges, said MENA.

According to the report, foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) will hold a preparatory meeting on Dec. 6 to discuss the summit agenda.

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz will address the Islamic nation at the opening session of the summit.

In an interview with MENA, OIC Secretary Ggeneral Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu highlighted the significance of the summit, terming the meeting "a changing point" in the pan-Islamic organization's history.

The OIC has not only come to the center stage for Muslims around the world, but the international community as a whole, he said.

Source: Xinhua