ISTANBUL, June 14: A meeting of foreign ministers from Islamic countries opened here on Monday with a call by the Turkish president for reforms in Muslim countries coupled with a resolution to the Middle East crisis.

Speaking at the opening of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Ahmet Necdet Sezer told delegates that unless there was a solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, a US plan for a "Greater Middle East" would fail.

"We are experiencing a moment when the winds of change are strong... No country can disassociate itself from this atmosphere of change," said Mr Sezer during his opening speech to the conference.

He underlined the need to reinforce human rights, individual liberties, equality between the sexes and religious tolerance. He also said that it was up to each country to determine the speed of the reforms "which must be realistic."

"But it is clear that we must make progress towards a common identity on the indispensable need for reforms... without sacrificing our traditions and without remaining behind the times," he said. But without mentioning the US plan for a "Greater Middle East" by name, he said that modernization plans in Muslim countries in the region will be in vain unless a solution is found to the Middle East crisis.

"The occupation which is continuing in Palestinian territories, the excessive and disproportionate use of force... have lifted the conflict to a higher level," he said.

The "Greater Middle East Initiative" is Washington's project for economic and political reform in the largely autocratic region. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who recently took part in the G8 summit in the United States, also said he had reservations about Washington's plan.

"Change must not be imposed from the outside. Turkey believes that the Muslim world, including Turkey, needs to implement reforms, but at its own pace," he said.

"Differences between each countries must be taken into account... all the differences must be evaluated," he added. Washington is likely to come in for sharp criticism at the conference for both its unpopular war on Iraq and its staunch support for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The handover of power in Iraq was also high on the agenda at the conference attended by ministers from 57 countries and about 2,300 delegates. The UN envoy for Iraq Lakhdar Brahimi urged Islamic countries to help the transitional government in Baghdad, which is to take power at the end of the month.

Mr Brahimi said it was in the interest of OIC members to help Iraq, and in particular the election process and the organization of a national conference. On the proposed Israeli pullout of the Gaza Strip, he said it could be positive, on condition it took place "in consultation with the Palestinian Authority" and the so-called "Road map" for peace in the Middle East.

OIC Secretary General Abdulwahed Belkeziz for his part called on Muslim countries to fight extremism, which he said was damaging the image of Islam in the world.

"The powerlessness that the Muslim world is experiencing today and the difficulty of finding solutions to our just causes have been the reason behind the rise of extremism," he said.

And he added: "Fanatics have seen in this an opportunity to commit odious and reprehensible acts ... which is why we must fight this extremism resolutely and determinedly at a time when we are working to correct the tainted image of Islam in the world."

Representatives from Iraq and neighbours Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria and Turkey are scheduled to hold a meeting on the sidelines, at the suggestion of host Turkey. -AFP