Malaysia, the chair of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, denied Thursday a new Middle East peace initiative driven by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf would undermine the grouping.

Musharraf has proposed bringing together leaders of influential Muslim nations to devise a new strategy to curb spiralling violence in the region.

Malaysia and Indonesia backed the plan during visits this week by the Pakistani leader, who has also secured the support of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.

"What brings me here is the extension of the process of consultation towards a new initiative by a group of like-minded Muslim countries towards resolution of disputes and bringing harmony into the Muslim world," Musharraf said.

"We hope to take this process forward towards some meaningful result," he told a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the new plan would not undermine the role of the 57-nation OIC, the world's largest grouping of Muslim nations, which has been criticised for being ineffective and lacking purpose.

"I don't think so," he said. "It's a process of consultation, it should not undermine anybody.

No harm in trying

Syed Hamid and his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri said the next step should be for the leaders of the nations involved to meet and decide on a plan of action.

"Until the leaders meet ... how can we think of the ingredients of that fresh new initiative," said Kasuri.

"The president has something in his mind but it's not appropriate for him to preempt what the others would say."

Musharraf admitted that many had tried and failed to establish peace in the Middle East, but said this was no reason to give up.

"There's no harm in trying and I think that the only chance is that maybe through a new approach we succeed, so why not take that chance," he said.