Israel can't be given 'licence' to destroy Lebanon: Malaysia

"What is needed now is for the United Nations Security Council to quickly arrive at a decision on the ceasefire to stop Israeli atrocities," Syed Hamid Albar was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

The state agency quoted him as saying Israel cannot be given a "licence" to destroy another country on the excuse that it was to ensure its security.

Mainly Muslim Malaysia, which does not have diplomatic relations with the Jewish state, Friday rejected a call by an Israeli official for dialogue to resolve the Middle East crisis.

Syed Hamid said the United States and Britain should play a fair and responsible role to bring peace to the region and support a UN resolution for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

"What can be seen now is that Israel is backed by the United States and its close ally, Britain.

"These two world powers in fact should take the lead to bring the conflict to an end at the Security Council. I hope they will support the latest draft resolution calling for hostilities to cease that was presented to the Security Council," he said.

Syed Hamid warned that any further delay in securing a ceasefire would cause more deaths both in Lebanon and Israel.

More than 990 people, mostly civilians, have been killed and over 3,320 others wounded in Lebanon since Israel launched a massive offensive on its northern neighbour after Hezbollah captured two soldiers on July 12.

Syed Hamid also said more countries in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which his country chairs were prepared to commit their troops for a peacekeeping mission in addition to Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.

He did not name the countries.

Malaysia hosted an emergency gathering on Thursday of leaders from the OIC who condemned what they called Israeli aggression in Lebanon and called for an immediate ceasefire.