A new resolve is urgently needed by Palestinians and Israelis to find a political solution to their conflict, the leader of the 117-nation Non-Aligned Movement said on Monday.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, current chairperson of the grouping which strongly backs the Palestinian cause, made the call in a statement marking the international day of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Abdullah said the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat "should now motivate every Palestinian to complete the struggle that he had led and to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of every Palestinian".

Noting that "there is clearly no military solution to this conflict", Abdullah said: "A new resolve on the part of the parties to the conflict to resume the political process at the negotiating table is urgently required."

Abdullah, who took over the leadership of the group of mainly developing nations last year, urged "those who have the most influence to begin working towards bringing the parties to sit together in serious negotiations".

The United Nations, United States, European Union and Russia should "seize this opportunity to revive the roadmap and work towards the achievement of peace," Abdullah said.

Independent state

The roadmap, which calls for a ceasefire and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state by 2005, had effectively been on hold until Arafat, considered by Israel and the United States a non-partner in the peace process, died.

Arafat's death on Nov 11 and the emergence of the moderate Mahmud Abbas as the new leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation have encouraged hopes that the moribund Middle East peace process could be revived.

Abdullah welcomed Abbas as PLO chairman and said Palestinian elections in January "should provide a new beginning for Palestine and a new momentum towards the achievement of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the area."