Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has urged Israeli authorities to be "cautious" amidst fears the walls of the ancient al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City are crumbling.

"The al-Aqsa is sacred to Muslims, considered a world heritage," Abdullah was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

"Therefore the Israelis need to be cautious" given that Muslims were angry over the poor condition of the mosque, he said.

Malaysia, as chair of the world's largest grouping of Islamic countries, the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), demanded that Israel takes Muslim views and concerns into consideration, he said.

Abdullah said a United Nations' resolution states any conflict between Israel and another party should not lead to destruction of the al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israeli media reported last week that large sections of the 16th century walls surrounding Jerusalem's Old City are in danger of collapse unless they undergo immediate restoration.

The area in most need of work is a section flanking the southern supporting wall of the al-Aqsa mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam, the reports said.

Ancient Jewish temple

The site also houses the ruins of the ancient Jewish temple, the most sacred spot in Judaism, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

Israeli authorities have repeatedly called attention to a bulge in the southern supporting wall of the al-Aqsa mosque compound, provoking tensions between the Jewish and Muslim communities.

Palestinian Muslim leaders have urged the OIC and Unesco, the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation, to intervene to protect Islamic heritage including the compound in the Old City. They have held Israel responsible for the crumbling of the walls.

But a Jordanian committee responsible for maintenance of the compound has denied the walls are in danger of collapsing.

The Old City is divided culturally and historically into four parts - the Jewish, Armenian, Christian and Muslim quarters.

Built by Suleiman the Magnificent between 1536-1541, the Old City walls stretch for 3.8km.