Muslim world rallies to Arafat

Foreign ministers of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) have ended a three-day meeting in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, by expressing their support for the Palestinian people under the leadership of Yasser Arafat.

The 57-member bloc released a final statement expressing the Muslim world's support for the Palestinian struggle.

No mention was made of President Bush's speech on Monday calling for a change in the Palestinian leadership before the US would support a Palestinian state.

The OIC also voiced support for the Saudi Arabian peace initiative that offers Israel normal ties with the Arab world in exchange for the return of lands seized in 1967.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service