The announcement by Ahmed bin Heli, the 22-member group’s deputy chief, follows a request by Gulf nations to cancel the May 10-11 event because of political unrest across the region.

Iraq’s Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has said he is prepared to postpone but not cancel the summit.

Bin Heli said Arab foreign ministers will meet on May 15 to decide on a new date.

He says they will also discuss the successor to the league’s current chief, Amr Moussa, whose term expires next month.

Another league official says the summit will probably be held in September.