Malaysia calls for urgent OIC meeting on Iraq
Malaysia today urged the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to call an emergency meeting in a bid to avert a US-led war against Iraq.
The organisation needed to speak with one voice on Washington's threat to invade Iraq and topple the regime of President Saddam Hussein, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told the official Bernama news agency.
"I will send the letter (calling for an emergency meeting) to the OIC secretary-general tomorrow.
"We must come out with one voice and our actions must be integrated," Syed Hamid said.
"This is the time for all OIC member states to issue clear statements on their respective stands and initiate diplomatic efforts and negotiations to avert a war on Iraq."
Fear of arousing anger
Syed Hamid said he feared an attack on Iraq would "arouse anger and feelings of marginalisation among Muslims and even moderate Muslims will eventually be influenced and become extreme because their moderation was not reciprocated."
Malaysia, a mainly Muslim Southeast Asian nation which has supported the US war on terrorism, is due to take over the chairmanship of the OIC after a summit here in October next year.
Qatar is the current chair of the group, which is based in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. — AFP
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