KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15: The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) said on Thursday that there was growing support within its ranks to form a Muslim peacekeeping force as part of plans to bolster its image.

“At the moment we do not have a mechanism (for a peacekeeping force) but I think there is a demand,” said OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

“I think it is in the interest of the Muslim community to have a peacekeeping force under the OIC banner,” he told reporters at the sidelines of a gathering of lawmakers from the group’s parliaments here.

Delegates said the formation of an OIC peacekeeping force was expected to be discussed at the summit on Friday.

Parliamentary Speaker from Burkina Faso Toure Solimane said that the OIC peacekeepers would provide a better alternative for resolving conflicts.—AFP