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Islamic nations tell U.S. to leave Iraq

By Munir Boweti

Sat 11 October, 2003: PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (Reuters) - Muslim nations have demanded "eviction of all foreign forces from Iraq" at the start of a summit in Malaysia with only Turkey defending plans to deploy its troops alongside the U.S.-led alliance.

Abdelouahed Belkeziz, Secretary-General of the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said occupying forces should quickly withdraw from Iraq to give the United Nations a chance to reconstruct the country.

The OIC Summit, being held in Malaysia's new administrative capital of Putrajaya, began with meetings of senior officials. Foreign ministers will meet on Monday and the leaders' summit takes place on October 16-17.

Up to 35 heads of state are expected to attend in what will be the largest gathering of Muslim leaders since before al Qaeda's attack on the United States on September 11, 2001.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan is also scheduled to attend, along with non-members Russian President Vladimir Putin and Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who both rule over large, rebellious Muslim minorities.

Belkeziz said of all the conflicts involving Muslims, the occupation of Iraq and the Palestinian problem needed to be addressed most urgently.

"Foremost of these is the eviction of foreign forces from Iraq, allowing the United Nations to administer Iraqi affairs," Belkeziz said in his opening address.

But the lead delegate from Turkey's team of senior officials said although Ankara would have liked a U.N. mandate to help restore order in neighbouring Iraq, it was more important to act.

"We decided to do something. Of course, it is easy for us to stay away, to criticise to say that the occupation should end," Tahsin Burcuoglu told reporters.

"If there's a U.N. mandate we will be very pleased. But now we see that it is not possible," he said.

When later asked by Reuters whether troops would definitely not be deployed in the Kurdish north, where Turkey is regarded with deep suspicion, Burcuoglu said: "No. We already have troops there, we will not be sending any more. They will be deployed elsewhere."

Ankara is currently negotiating terms for troop deployment with Washington, but the U.S.-backed Iraqi Governing Council is against troops from neighbouring countries being allowed in. A delegation from the Governing Council is expected at the summit.

Iraq's other northern neighbour, Iran, predictably wanted the U.S.-led forces out.

"All OIC members are urging the occupiers to leave Iraq and give the power to the Iraqi people," Ghomali Khoshroo, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, told reporters.

Belkeziz also condemned Israel for failure to live up to peace process commitments, while Dashar Jaafari, leader of Syria's delegation, expected the summit to discuss the Israeli attack on its territory a week ago.

"In Palestine, the situation continues to worsen day after day in the face of the Israeli government's obduracy to fulfil the obligations demanded of it by the road map," Belkeziz said.

Belkeziz said the eight-day meeting, which ends when leaders depart on October 18, should also discuss major challenges to Muslims arising from terrorism and globalisation and "campaigns against Islam, Muslims and human rights."

Other conflicts that the summit will touch upon include the situations in Afghanistan, Kashmir, Azerbaijan, the Philippines and Somalia.