SPECIAL PARLIAMENT SESSION TO PRESSURE MAJOR POWERS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- Monday's special session of parliament to
condemn Israel's attacks on Gaza was to pressure major powers to act to stop
the regime's brutalities, Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Mohd Shafie
Apdal said.

"We hope that other legislative bodies will convene their own sessions to
pressure major powers to act on Israel," he told reporters at parliament lobby.

Earlier Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tabled a motion urging the
United Nations to set up a war crimes tribunal to prosecute Israelis suspected
of committing war crimes against Palestinians.

Mohd Shafie, who is Commonwealth Parliamentary Association chairman, said
Israeli leaders who perpetrated the violence in Gaza should be tried in
international court.

He said the motion, which was later approved by members, would be conveyed
to the UN to state Malaysia's stance against the violence in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the motion tabled by
the prime minister was supported by members of parliament irrespective of race,
religion and political differences.

"We are touched by what the leaders of political parties said during the
debate, especially in seeking justice for the Palestinian people," he said.

The United Malays National organisation (Umno) Youth chief said the movement
had been wishing for a common voice from all strata of the Malaysian society to
condemn Israel's aggression.

"For the record, in 2005, we were with Indonesian youths to condemn Israel.
In 2006, we organised a gathering for the same purpose, attended not only by
members of Barisan Nasional youth movements but also those of the opposition
parties," he said.
-- BERNAMA