Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday called for an immediate ceasefire in Israel's offensive in Lebanon and urged Hezbollah to release two captured Israeli soldiers.

Abdullah, who is the current chairman of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said Malaysia was pressing the United Nations to hold a special meeting to push for an end to the violence.

"This is most important. Otherwise, even the UN won't be able to do anything and the situation in Lebanon and West Asia will deteriorate," he was quoted as saying by the state Bernama news agency.

"The ceasefire and the handing over of the two Israeli soldiers must be carried out immediately and simultaneously," he said.

"Without the ceasefire, Hezbollah will not hand over the two soldiers."

US has influence

As US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice headed to the Middle East for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Abdullah said Washington had "the capability to pressure and resolve the problem using its influence."

Malaysia has said it is considering sending a peacekeeping force to the Lebanon-Israel border once the UN Security Council decides on a proposal to dispatch troops to the area.

Malaysia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel.