Malaysia's Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said a meeting of Southeast Asian ministers and the region's largest security forum would discuss the growing conflict in the Middle East.

"This is an issue of peace and security that affects the whole world. I hope we can have discussions and issue a joint statement calling for a ceasefire," Syed Hamid was quoted as saying by the state Bernama news agency.

Asean foreign ministers will meet in Kuala Lumpur from July 24, an event followed by Asia's main security dialogue, the Asean Regional Forum, which includes the United States, Russia and the European Union.

Malaysians evacuated

Syed Hamid also said a small group of Malaysians, including four diplomats, had been evacuated from Lebanon as Israel continued its assault against Hezbollah.

Syed Hamid said four officials from Malaysia's embassy in Beirut, four of their family members, and two other Malaysians were sent to Syria on Sunday after initially moving to northern Lebanon.

"They are now safe in Syria and we will monitor the developments from time to time," he said.

Malaysia is the chair of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference, and Syed Hamid said the grouping would contact the European Union and the United Nations to press Israel to stop its offensive in Lebanon and Gaza.