The governments of Malaysia and Singapore have criticized Indonesia for its alleged inefficient action to control haze from land-clearing fires raging in Sumatra and Kalimantan in Indonesia. The smoke has enveloped parts of the region every year, caused health problems and caused lost business opportunities in travel and tourism.

Agence France-Presse reported that Yudhoyono offered his country's apologies to the two nations on Thursday and telephoned Singapore's prime minister to tell him the meeting was set for Friday.

Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau province on Sumatra island, near Singapore, has been badly affected by this year's smoke.

Environment ministers from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand are expected to attend the summit.

The president's spokesman Dino Patti Djalal told Agence France-Presse, "The president puts high hopes on the results of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) ministerial meeting."

On Wednesday, Singapore Premier Lee Hsien Loong wrote to Yudhoyono complaining of the haze. The two leaders had discussed "ways to handle the problem."

Djalal adds, "The president, once again, apologized for the inconvenience felt by Singapore and our neighbor Malaysia."