Pakistan on Monday voiced hope that the international summit in Egypt would end escalating violence in the Middle East and save the peace process.
"It is high time for more energetic efforts to rescue the peace process from collapse," President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar said in a statement quoted by the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
The President "hoped and prayed" the summit, in the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh, would help seek "just and durable peace in the region," it said.
The summit, hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, is being attended by US President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Jordan's King Abdullah II, UN chief Kofi Annan and top European Union diplomats.
It has been convened amid continuing clashes in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza that have killed more than 100 people, mainly Palestinians, and injured more than 3,000 since the end of September.
Tarar also asked the Muslim world to stand by the Palestinians to "condemn aggressive and cruel behavior" of the Israeli government.
The Muslim countries should join hands in favor of an independent Palestinian state, APP quoted him as telling reporters here.
"We all condemn" the use of heavy arms and air power against Palestinians, he said adding the civilized world must take note and pressure Israel to stop the "inhuman treatment" of Palestinians.
"Israel must immediately cease all aggressive attacks," he said - ISLAMABAD (AFP)
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