Muslim solidarity on Israel, Iraq

Foreign ministers from 57 Islamic nations have accused Israel of practising repression and state terrorism, and called for the speedy restoration of full Iraqi sovereignty.

A joint declaration was issued by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference at the end of three days of talks in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Member nations expressed solidarity with Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese resistance to Israel, but made no mention of the present international plan for Middle East peace known as the roadmap.

The declaration also stressed the necessity of forming a national government in Iraq as quickly as possible and called for an end to the country's occupation by US-led coalition forces.

Member nations rejected what they termed unilateralism and the resort to force, expressing alarm at what was termed a rising tendency to disregard international law.

BBC Tehran correspondent Jim Muir says the Tehran Declaration - as the final statement was called - is certainly not be to Washington's taste, but it comes amid signs of a possible easing of tension between Tehran and Washington.

A much-speculated meeting of top US policy makers who were expected to discuss taking a tougher line towards Iran has apparently been postponed indefinitely.

President Bush himself has said that talk of an American attack on Iran was just idle speculation.