Malay PM rebukes U.N. over Israel

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Written by fayce

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) -- The U.N. Security Council lacks courage to condemn Israel's attacks on the Lebanese and Palestinians, the head of the world's main Islamic bloc said Thursday, adding that Muslim nations must work to prevent Israeli impunity.

"The United Nations has not been able to do much except to try organizing the distribution of humanitarian aid," Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in a speech opening an emergency summit of the 56-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference.

The comments by Abdullah, the current chairman of the group, reflected growing frustration among Muslim governments after the U.N. on Wednesday canceled, for the second time, a meeting that could possibly have committed peacekeeping forces to Lebanon.

"No end seems to be in sight. The Security Council could not even muster the moral courage to condemn Israel" for the attack on the Lebanese village of Qana on Sunday that killed 56 people, mostly women and children, Abdullah said.

At least 548 Lebanese, mostly civilians, have been killed since fighting began three weeks ago between Hezbollah guerrillas and Israel's military. In all, 56 Israelis have died.

Israel has also launched offensives against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas-linked militants captured an Israeli soldier on June 25.

Abdullah said Malaysia, which chairs the OIC, was prepared to commit troops to any U.N.-led peacekeeping missions in Lebanon and Palestinian territories, and urged other Muslim nations to do the same.

Abdullah arranged a day-long summit of leaders and top officials from 17 Muslim-majority countries to discuss measures to end fighting in the Middle East.

"As leaders of the Islamic world, we have a moral and political obligation to do something," Abdullah said. "Israel cannot be allowed to continue with impunity its aggression" against the Lebanese and Palestinians.

The leaders were likely to demand an immediate, unconditional cease-fire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, as well as a multinational force to stabilize the Israeli-Lebanon border under the United Nations, and properly coordinated humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Palestinian sites, Malaysian officials have said.

They are also likely to push for member nations to be included among a U.N. peacekeeping force.

"We must play a proactive role in the present conflict," Abdullah said. "Our own people are watching us, and waiting for us to make the right decisions."

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