The Arab League said on Friday that Morocco will not host an Arab summit that was planned to be held in April in Marrakesh.

In a press release, the pan-Arab body said its Secretary General Nabil el Araby received a phone call from Moroccan Foreign Minister Salah Eddine Mezouar who noted that the kingdom was apologizing for not hosting the summit.

Earlier, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said King Mohammed VI directed the ministry to inform the AL chief on his country's decision.

The decision comes after talks with a number of Arab countries, the ministry said.

The time is not suitable to hold a successful Arab summit that can take decisions concerning the ongoing challenges, the ministry added.

Morocco will continue to serve just Arab causes and to combat sectarian divisions feeding isolation and extremism, it said.

Source: MENA