ISTANBUL, Nov 22: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday urged Arab states to join the United Nations force in Lebanon monitoring the ceasefire with Israel, the Anatolia news agency reported.

“The Middle East is simmering. There are calls to do something about it but are you going to just sit on the sidelines like a spectator? Are you going to just give out advice?” Erdogan asked an international business gathering organised by a pro-Islamic businessmen's group.

“I want to issue a call to the Arab League. They have to give all their support in a very clear manner,” Erdogan said.

The Turkish leader underlined that Arab League member states, which are also members of the UN, must join the peacekeeping force in order to facilitate peace in the region.

“This problem cannot be resolved by leaving Lebanon alone. This problem cannot be left to the United Nations alone,” Erdogan said.—AFP