Arabic papers look ahead to a summit in Tunis later this month which is to debate a US plan to broaden Arab democracy.

Most see Washington's 'Greater Middle East Initiative', also the focus of a European tour by Egypt's President Mubarak, as a challenge requiring a united front to ensure Arab concerns are addressed.

Other papers consider the fallout from Tuesday's blasts targeting Iraqi Shias on the holy day of Ashura.

The Arab world is at a crossroads. At the Arab summit in Tunisia, Arab leaders should try to resolve the various thorny issues of the occupied territories, Israel's aggressive policies against the Palestinians and the disastrous situation in Iraq.

Editorial in Oman - Oman

Talk about a Greater Middle East requires talk about all the problems of the Middle East. It is not possible for anyone to ignore the Palestinian and WMD issues, which are shaking the stability of the region... For any reform to take place in the region, the necessary stability must be provided.

Editorial from Al-Akhbar - Egypt

The tour by President Mubarak is important because of its timing and effect. It stresses that Arabs with their cultural and historical heritage are a basic party in any equilibrium and a strong presence in any dialogue or initiative linked to the Middle East.

Editorial in Al-Ahram - Egypt

What can we expect from the Arab summit?... Are we really invited to declare a state of despair and submission?... Or is there hope through the reform of the Arab situation?

Commentary in Al-Ayyam - Palestinian

Reform as a term has become part of the Arab summits' dictionary for the first time, thanks to the US initiative for a Greater Middle East... I expect the Arab regimes will try to ease their way out of local calls for reforms by stamping them as 'made in the USA'.

Commentary in Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah - Palestinian

The Arab reaction to the massacre in Karbala and Baghdad on Ashura day was weak to the degree of nothingness. This is an issue that stirs panic, because there was no condemnation of the heinous crime.

2nd commentary in Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah - Palestinian

What happened in Karbala and Baghdad... is aimed not only at upsetting the security situation in Iraq, so as to remove the occupation forces, but also to bring about internal conflict to sabotage national unity.

Commentary in Al-Thawrah - Syria

The explosions in Karbala and Baghdad during the Ashura celebrations indicate without doubt that Iraq's national unity and its sectarian and social coexistence are a target.

Editorial in Al-Watan - Saudi Arabia

There is commitment by the various sects to reject the path of revenge, especially after the bloody Tuesday in Karbala and Baghdad.

Editorial in Al-Jazirah - Saudi Arabia

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