"Our people need food, not fighter aircraft, books not bombs, magazines not missiles," said Gayoom, 65, who is the longest-serving leader of Asia, as the seven-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit opened here.

People need to protect the environment and their rich culture, he said, adding "that is the least they (leaders) can do for their successive generations."

"South Asia must boost its strength not to fight wars or to maim and kill but to overcome poverty, hunger, disease and despair."

Calling for speedy development of the region, home to one-fifth of humanity -- almost half of which lives in poverty -- the leader of the Indian Ocean island nation said South Asia needs to focus all its energies on development.

"Saarc soon may become an anachronism if we individually and collectively do not find the heart to step into the future.

"Let us not let that future slip through our fingers. Let us build on the breakthroughs that we have accomplished and usher in a new dawn," Gayoom said.