The 12th summit of the Organization of Islamic Co-operation has opened in Cairo, with Syria's war and Mali topping the agenda.

Senegalese President Macky Sall gave the opening remarks on Wednesday, making his last address before handing the OIC's rotating presidency to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.

President Morsi also addressed the summit. He urged for the maximum use of resources and said that 21 Islamic nations were amongst the poorest in the world.

He said there is a need for more education and research efforts and raised concerns about Muslim minorities, citing the Rohingya Muslim minority in Mynmar and called for more co-operation and support among the countries.

Regarding Palestine, he told the sitting, "solving the Palestinian issue is the cornerstone in achieving stability in the region and the world."

Speaking about Syria, he called on all Syrians to take the "rapid necessary and responsible steps until the change is made".

The meeting gathers the leaders of 26 of the OIC's 57 states, including the presidents of Iran and Turkey.

This also marks the first visit to Egypt by an Iranian president since the Islamic revolution in 1979, but the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has not been welcomed by all.

A protester was arrested after he threw a shoe at Ahmadinejad, who is also in the country to discuss bilateral ties with Morsi.

PHOTO CAPTION

Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi (R) greets Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Akmal El Din Ihsan Oglo before the opening of the OIC summit in Cairo February 6, 2013.

Al-Jazeera