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OIC chief calls for defence of member states under threat
Tehran, May 28: Muslim foreign ministers meeting here today were urged to stand by fellow Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) members, in an implicit reference by the pan-Islamic group`s secretary general to US warnings to Iran and Syria.
Tehran, May 28: Muslim foreign ministers meeting here today were urged to stand by fellow Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) members, in an implicit reference by the pan-Islamic group's secretary general to US warnings to Iran and Syria.
"We must proclaim our rejection of explicit and implicit threats being directed at some OIC member states," Abdulwahed Belkeziz told a gathering of ministers from more than 50 Muslim states.
"Our duty here is to support and defend these countries to prevent a repeat of the old colonial formulas," added Morocco's former foreign minister, without naming any country.
However, his comments were seen as timely reference to the United States.
Washington has warned Iran over its nuclear programme, its alleged harbouring of al-Qaeda members and against interference in Iraq.
It has also warned Syria over allegedly harbouring officials from the ousted Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein, and criticized Tehran and Damascus for supporting Lebanon's Shiite Muslim fundamentalist group, Hezbolah.
In his opening speech, Belkeziz told ministers they were meeting during "a critical juncture as the Islamic would traverses its most severe crisis.
"Regrettably, all outward indicators do not warrant optimism, given the ominous climate casting a cloud of gloom over most countries of the Muslim world," he said, admitting that Muslim states "had utterly failed to act as one Islamic nation".
Bureau Report
"Our duty here is to support and defend these countries to prevent a repeat of the old colonial formulas," added Morocco's former foreign minister, without naming any country.
However, his comments were seen as timely reference to the United States.
Washington has warned Iran over its nuclear programme, its alleged harbouring of al-Qaeda members and against interference in Iraq.
It has also warned Syria over allegedly harbouring officials from the ousted Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein, and criticized Tehran and Damascus for supporting Lebanon's Shiite Muslim fundamentalist group, Hezbolah.
In his opening speech, Belkeziz told ministers they were meeting during "a critical juncture as the Islamic would traverses its most severe crisis.
"Regrettably, all outward indicators do not warrant optimism, given the ominous climate casting a cloud of gloom over most countries of the Muslim world," he said, admitting that Muslim states "had utterly failed to act as one Islamic nation".
Bureau Report