The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) today warned of dangerous tensions provoked by Israeli construction work near Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque but opposed violence against the Jewish state.

"This is very dangerous. There is no (need for a) second opinion that it is dangerous," said OIC secretary-general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

"The issue is how to convince the Israel government to stop the excavation," he told reporters at the sidelines of a gathering of lawmakers from the grouping's parliaments here.

The work, which started on Feb 6 near the revered Al-Aqsa mosque compound, has angered Muslims around the world and officials have warned it endangered the compound's foundations.

Last Friday, 15 Israeli police and at least 20 Palestinians were wounded in clashes at the compound, the third-holiest site in Islam.

Ihsanoglu called on Muslim countries to rally and pressure Israel to halt its activities, but urged Muslims against resorting to violence.

"We do not want violence. We are against violence," Ihsanoglu said, adding he hoped "common sense will prevail".

Two-day meeting

Some 170 lawmakers from 36 of the grouping's 57 nations are attending the two-day annual meeting hosted by current OIC chair Malaysia to discuss a range of issues - from political, economic and security matters to social issues and the environment - confronting the Muslim world.

Earlier, the deputy speaker of Iraq's House of Representatives, Khalid al-Attya, described Israel's public works at the holy mosque as "an insult to all Muslims".

"The internal problems in Palestine have encouraged Israel to violate their land," he said.

Addressing the worsening security situation in Iraq, Attya also said efforts by the coalition and Iraqi forces there had failed to ensure peace.

"We see acts of violence increasing. We are placed under tremendous stress," Attya said.

"We were able to get rid of dictator Saddam Hussein, but Saddam's followers keep on killing in a brutal manner," he said.

Lawmakers were due later today to discuss the evacuation of foreign occupation troops from Iraq and an immediate ceasefire.

They also plan to condemn "Israeli aggression" in Lebanon and discuss rising anti-Muslim sentiment.