Islamic nations to rally opposition to US policies in ME, Iraq

The meeting of the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) will press Washington to drop its backing for Israel's latest strategy on the Palestinian territories and for a bigger United Nations role in Iraq, Syed Hamid Albar told reporters.

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The special conference of the world's biggest grouping of Muslim nations was called after US President George W. Bush last week endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to keep some Arab land captured in the 1967 war.

The OIC would call for Israel to stick to the international roadmap for peace and for the early establishment of a Palestinian state, Syed Hamid said.

"We want the international community to play a stronger and more meaningful role, to support the roadmap and to change the US attitude which openly supports Israel," he said in a television interview.

"For as long as they get the backing of their superpower ally, then Israel will continue to reign in the Middle East... it's as if they are the special people of the world and are untouchable."

Bush's support for Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip but keep some Jewish settlements in the West Bank triggered anger in the Arab world and led Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to ask Malaysia, the current chair of the OIC, to call an urgent meeting.

Plans were already afoot to hold an OIC conference next month on the deteriorating situation in Iraq, but it was brought forward and the Middle East issue now appears to top the agenda.

Syed Hamid condemned Israel's assassination of Hamas leaders Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and Abdelaziz al-Rantissi in the past month as contrary to international law and likely to provoke more violence by the Palestinians.

"It will create more anger and even more violence. So you can't blame those who are committing violent acts, committing suicide. Although it is wrong, these are people who are left with no hope, no light at the end of the tunnel. They will do anything," he said.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday tried to reassure Arabs and European allies that Washington remains committed to the roadmap and will not pre-judge the outcome of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.