JEDDAH, March 20: The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on Thursday called for an immediate end to the US-led war on Iraq and a diplomatic solution to the standoff with Baghdad.

“The OIC deeply regrets the latest developments in Iraq and calls for an immediate end to military operations and a return (to diplomacy) to try to find a peaceful solution through the UN Security Council,” secretary general Abdulwahed Belkeziz said.

He also urged the return to Iraq of UN weapons inspectors, who were pulled out in the final hours before the United States launched a war earlier Thursday to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

“War is never the best way to resolve conflicts,” he said, adding that it would “add to the suffering of the Iraqi people and upset the stability of the Middle East.”

The secretary general of the 57-nation group also said that the US-led war would “increase terrorism and extremism in the world.” —AFP