Pakistan proposes Muslim peace-keeping force in Iraq

ISLAMABAD, May 15 (Reuters) Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf proposed sending a Muslim peace-keeping force to Iraq as foreign ministers of Islamic countries met today to discuss problems facing the Muslim world.

''The mass killing that is taking place (in Iraq), the carnage that is taking place there has to stop,'' Musharraf said at the start of a three day meeting of ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).

''If all the warring factions, different factions in Iraq, if they accept, then maybe a Muslim peace-keeping force under the United Nations umbrella could be looked at if that leads to peace and resolution of the crisis.'' Musharraf opened the OIC meeting in the capital Islamabad with a call for a political solution to bring peace to Iraq.

''A political solution is a dire necessity now, we have to stop all outside interference... And if outside interference stops, I think internal control would be possible.'' Musharraf also called for an early resolution of the Palestinian dispute that he said was at the core of many other disputes around the world.

Despite mounting challenges to his authority at home, the Pakistani leader has sought to take a lead in Middle East diplomacy, visited several Muslim and Arab nations earlier this year to push a new Middle East peace initiative.

The OIC foreign ministers meeting on the theme of ''Peace, Progress and Harmony'' will discuss a new charter for the organisation in the next two days to enable it to ''effectively'' represent the Muslim nations.

The OIC is the world's largest body of Islamic nations, grouping 57 member countries and five observers.

REUTERS SLD KN1719