Sana'a, Yemen - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh pulled out of the Arab League summit Monday in Doha in protest after his plan for setting up an Arab Union was not discussed, Yemen's state news agency Saba reported.

Saleh "withdrew from the closed-door session and the concluding session of 21st Arab summit in Doha in protest after he was not given the opportunity to read out the Yemeni vision on activating the joint Arab action and the establishment of an Arab Union," Saba reported.

The plan had been previously endorsed by the Arab Parliament, which recommended inclusion on the summit's agenda.

Under the Yemeni plan, Arab states should establish an EU-style body to be called the Arab Union that would draw policies for lower Arab councils on economics, security and defence.

Saba said the main object of the proposed union was "the realization of an economic integration between the Arab states."

The Arab League, which groups 22 countries, was established in 1945 with a main goal of closer relations between its member states. (dpa)