( L - R ) Macapagal-Arroyo, Assad, Ahmadinejad, Musharraf

HAVANA (AP):

Most of the 116 members of the Non-aligned Movement will be represented at the group's summit in Cuba from September 11-16, organisers said yesterday.

The Communist Party daily Granma said many of those countries' heads of state or government will attend the event, but provided no specifics.

Confirmed attendance

Leaders who have officially confirmed attendance thus far include Presidents Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, Bashar Assad of Syria, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Phili-ppines, Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic, Evo Morales of Bolivia, Alfredo Palacio of Ecuador and Fradique de Menezes of the west African island of Sao Tome.

Others who have confirmed they will attend include Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh of India, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia and Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand.

From the Caribbean, Prime Ministers Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent, Keith Mitchell of Grenada and Baldwin Spencer of Antigua have said they are coming.

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, among Cuba's closest allies, is also expected to attend the gath-ering, although he has not yet officially confirmed.

During the gathering, Malaysia will turn over the three-year chairmanship of the non-aligned Movement to Cuba.

The Caribbean countries of Haiti and St. Kitts and Nevis are scheduled to officially join the movement during the gathering, bringing the total of members to 118, the Cuban newspaper said.

Cuban officials have not said whether ailing leader Fidel Castro will be well enough to attend the event. Castro announced on July 31 that he was provisionally granted his powers as president and Communist Party chief to his brother, Defence Minister Raul Castro, while he recovers from intestinal surgery.

Health improving

The Cuban leader looked notably improved on a videotape aired on state television Friday night that showed him receiving a visit from Chavez.

Formed in 1961, the Non-aligned Movement was originally comprised of nations trying to form a third world force through a policy of nonalignment with the United States and the Soviet Union.