EDIT CONTAINS 4:3 MATERIAL<br/> <br />Members of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation are expected to suspend Syria's membership from the group later on Wednesday.<br/> <br />Leaders from the 57 member body arrived in Mecca, Saudi Arabia for the summit late Tuesday.<br/> <br />The civil war in Syria has divided Muslim countries along sectarian lines with Sunni-led Arab states and Turkey backing Syria's rebels, and Shi'ite Iran led supporting Assad, who is a member of the Alawite minority sect, an offshoot of Shi'a Islam.<br/> <br />In Beijing, al-Assad's special envoy is expected to hold meetings with the Chinese officials.<br/> <br />China has been widely criticised by the West and many Arab nations for vetoing UN sanctions against Syria.
