Muslim states seek UN session

Kuala Lumpur: Muslim countries plan to seek a UN General Assembly special session to press for a stop to the escalating violence in Gaza, Malaysia's leader said Monday.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Malaysia's UN representative will hold talks with other officials in the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on how best to push for such a session.

"I hope the United States and its allies will not impede efforts to convene the special general assembly," Abdullah was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

Foreign ministers from OIC countries issued a statement following a meeting in Saudi Arabia over the weekend saying all Muslim nations should cooperate with other UN members to call for a special General Assembly session titled "Uniting for Peace."

In a separate statement, Abdullah said Israel's ground offensive in Gaza "is an act of total war which the international community should not tolerate."

Abdullah added that he has authorized $1 million of immediate humanitarian aid from the Malaysian government to be channelled through relief supplies for the Palestinians.