Lawmakers from member states of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) met today to discuss a range of issues affecting Muslims worldwide, with a focus on Middle East flashpoints.

OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu is expected to address the 170 delegates from 36 of the grouping's 57 nations at the opening session of the two-day meeting hosted by current OIC chair Malaysia.

The protection of the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, Islam's third holiest shrine, and the conflict in Iraq were set to dominate discussions, according to a draft agenda obtained by AFP .

The renovations to the mosque compound, regarded as a holy site by both Jews and Muslims, has ignited fury from Muslims who claim Israel's public works are endangering the mosque's foundations.

Reconstruction efforts

On Iraq, lawmakers will discuss the "evacuation of foreign occupation troops, an immediate ceasefire, as well as urgently reaching national reconciliation among all the leaderships and at all levels," the agenda reads.

The OIC parliamentarians also plan to condemn "Israeli aggression" in Lebanon and mull reconstruction efforts in the country.

They also were to tackle the issue of "incitement for hatred of Islam", according to the agenda, which refers to remarks made last year by Pope Benedict XVI and a long-running controversy over cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

The council was expected to issue a declaration at the end of the meeting on Friday.