Egypt stepped in yesterday to host an Arab summit after Tunisia stunned the Arab world with a unilateral decision to scrap the meeting on its soil, citing the reluctance of some countries to embrace democratic reform. Delegates to the Tunis summit, which would have opened today, disputed the Tunisian explanation, saying Tunisian President Zine Al Abdine Ben Ali was unhappy that some Arab leaders did not plan to attend and wanted to prove his democratic credentials to the US. Egypt expressed "astonishment and regret" at the Tunisian decision. The summit had been expected to talk about reform, Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "Egypt welcomes holding a summit conference in the country of the (Arab League) headquarters at the earliest time that can be agreed," said an Egyptian presidency statement. Tunisia hit back at Cairo's offer, saying a change in venue was no solution and it reserved the right to be host. But plans for the Egyptian meeting advanced. A senior Yemeni official said Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had telephoned his Yemeni counterpart Ali Abdullah Saleh to discuss preparations for the meeting which is "expected to be held on April 16 at the Arab League". The Egyptian news agency Mena reported Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal will visit Egypt today for talks with Mubarak. Syria said the Tunisian decision was unjustified and Jordan's Foreign Minister Marwan Al Muasher also cast doubt on the need for the Tunisians to back out as hosts. "In any summit there are differences of views but that does not mean that the summit was not well on its way to a successful conclusion," he told CNN. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, who has been working on summit preparations for months, told Mena the postponement would weaken the Arab League. But he said he hoped it would be only a small setback. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Arab League Secretary General Egyptian Amr Moussa gets into his car as he leaves his hotel for the airport, in Tunis, Tunisia, Sunday March 28, 2004. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)