Arab information ministers decided to launch a media campaign to promote the Palestinian cause here yesterday, but failed to agree on the creation of a joint Arabic-language satellite television news channel.

In a statement ending a two-day meeting, the Arab League ministers announced they would "organise information campaigns at the international level ... to denounce Israeli war crimes in Palestine".

They urged Arab media to "disclose the dangers of Israeli settlement policy," and to proclaim a "day of solidarity with Palestinian journalists".

But they failed to agree on setting up a joint satellite news channel or a joint Arab news agency, projects which have been on the drawing board for two years.

The ministers concluded that the effort to establish such news organisations should be "left to the private sector". - Sapa-AFP.