The leaders of major Muslim nations including Iran were set to issue a strong condemnation of Israel's offensive in Lebanon and demand an immediate ceasefire at crisis talks here.

Malaysia, which chairs the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), is hosting nearly 20 countries at the meeting, which is also expected to call for a UN peacekeeping force for Lebanon and properly coordinated humanitarian assistance.

The meeting takes place amid growing anger and frustration in the Muslim world over the high civilian death toll in Israel's three-week offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas and the targeting of Lebanon's infrastructure.

Among the leaders attending is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose government is accused of being the main financier and weapons supplier of the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah militia.

The United States and Israel have accused Iran of deliberately stoking the conflict and using Hezbollah as a proxy force, an allegation repeatedly denied by Tehran.

Lebanon says more than 800 civilians have been killed by Israeli forces since they launched their offensive on July 12 after Hezbollah staged a deadly cross-border raid in which they captured two Israeli soldiers.

At least 19 Israeli civilians have been killed in retaliatory Hezbollah rocket attacks across the border.

Ahmadinejad arrived in Malaysia early Thursday and is scheduled to hold a press conference at 0830 GMT before departing later in the day.

Speaking late Wednesday, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the meeting would allow Muslim voices to be heard.

"They are now angry because there has been no action of any sort," Syed Hamid told reporters.

"In the Muslim world there is a feeling of disillusionment, despair, that the UN is slow to take action. What we want is balanced treatment," he said.

Syed Hamid said OIC nations wanted to see a UN peacekeeping force which would include Muslim countries, and that members of the grouping would discuss possible troop commitments to the force.

A statement is expected to be issued at the end of the meeting, and Lebanon's Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh said he wanted to see a strong condemnation of Israel's actions.

"We need a strong resolution condemning Israel to support Lebanon at this critical time," he told АFР late Wednesday.

"The main request, the sole request of Lebanon, is a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire, then the withdrawal of Israeli troops to the Israeli's territory," he said.

The minister also called for "an international judiciary committee to judge Israel for its criminal actions, and the return of the Lebanese displaced to their homes, villages and towns."

Other leaders attending include Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

The gathering was originally intended to comprise the OIC's executive committee but was expanded to include a number of member countries concerned over the escalation of violence in the Middle East, officials said.

PHOTO CAPTION

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (L) and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan shake hands during a special session of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to discuss the Israel-Lebanon conflict, in Putrajaya outside Kuala Lumpur August 3, 2006. (REUTERS)