Muslim ministers urge Palestinian settlement

ISLAMABAD, Feb 25 (Reuters) Seven Muslim foreign ministers said today the Palestinian problem had to be resolved without delay and the stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme must be worked out through diplomacy.

The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt and Jordan, and the chief of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference met in the Pakistani capital to prepare for an Islamic summit aimed at ending turmoil in the West Asia.

After the talks, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri said they needed more deliberations before their summit in Saudi Arabia. No date has been set for the meeting.

The idea for a summit of Islamic countries has been championed by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf who has long said the Palestinian conflict was the root of terrorism.

Musharraf, whose government does not recognise Israel but has held talks with the Jewish state, has recently expressed gloom about the problems besetting the West Asia.

He has urged a new initiative in talks during visits to several Muslim countries over the past few weeks, including Syria and Iran, although they were not represented at today's talks.

Referring to clashes between Palestinian factions, Kasuri said it was heart-rending to see Palestinians killing Palestinians while sectarian violence in Iraq was ''horrendous''.

''We have seen deterioration and that has alarmed us,'' he said.

The seven ministers said the Palestinian question should be resolved on the basis of U.N. resolutions and initiatives that recognised the need for a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

''The foreign ministers reiterated the view that the Palestinian question is the central and core problem in the West Asia and it must be resolved without delay,'' they said in a statement.

''The minsters expressed concern over continuing occupation and illegal actions of Israel including the latest violation against al-Aqsa Mosque.'' ''NO USE OF FORCE'' They also said they viewed with deep concern the ''dangerous escalation of tension'' over Iran's nuclear programme.

''It is vital that all issues must be resolved through diplomacy and there must be no resort to use of force ... There is a need for de-escalation instead of aggravation and confrontation.'' They also called on Israel to withdraw from occupied Syrian and Lebanese territory, and for respect of Lebanon's sovereignty and independence.

They also expressed strong commitment to fight ''all forms of terrorism and extremism''.

Kasuri referred to the seven countries at the talks as ''like-minded'' but said it had yet to be decided if others, such as Iran and Syria, would attend the summit.

Asked when the summit would be, he said: ''There's a general realisation that it has to be at an early date.

''But ... we need to come forward with something new so that it can affect the situation on the ground. Deliberation for one day is not enough.'' Some analysts have said Musharraf's move to open communication channels with Israel -- Pakistan held its first public talks with Israel in 2005 despite opposition from hardline Islamists -- bolstered his international standing.

He could use his influence with the West to push for a settlement of the Palestinian dispute. But other analysts were doubtful a Muslim summit could achieve much more than drawing attention to the wEST aSIA's problems.

REUTERS SAM RAI2300