British winemaker returns to United Kingdom after being freed by Saudis

To this end, governments from the two blocs pledge to “enhance the current political dialogue” and champion the setting of cooperation targets in “high-priority” areas such as healthcare, education, poverty reduction, environment, climate change, energy, water resource management, food security and unemployment.

Women still have to get permission from a “guardian” – normally a father, husband or brother – before travelling, and are not permitted to drive. “Its leaders and the region’s institutions are exposed to real threats”. It commended Bahrain’s, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, hailing the royal keynote speech which stressed Bahrain’s keenness on the stability of the Arab region.

Mr. Ban noted that the Arab world faces great upheaval.

The Arab-South American summits, aimed at boosting economic and political ties, was launched in 2005 as an initiative of then Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Amnesty’s worldwide Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director, James Lynch, said: “The Saudi Arabian authorities appear intent on continuing a bloody execution spree which has seen at least 151 people put to death so far this year – an average of one person every two days”.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in a statement on Wednesday: “I am grateful to the Saudi government for their efforts in ensuring this positive outcome, following our discussions during my visit last month”.

President Omer Hassan al-Bashir arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday to participate in the summit which kicked off this evening with an address from Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz.

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday took part along with leaders of Arab and South American countries in the opening session of the 4th Summit of Arab and South American countries.

The document also called for solutions to the wars in Yemen, Syria and other regional conflicts.

Saudi Arabia has been blockading Yemen since March this year and is launching airstrikes in the country’s territory.

“I can say there are three to four different layers for approving these targets, just to make sure that civilians (are unharmed) – and going with a small calibre you are really controlling collateral damage”.

There is much commonality of interests between the two sides that needs institutionalisation.

HAN & Geeska Afrika Online (1985-2015), the oldest free independent Free Press in the region, brings together top journalists from across the Horn of Africa.