Singapore, June 21, SPA -- Middle East nations urged Israel andPalestinian leaders Tuesday to end their conflict for the sake of peace in the region while Malaysia called for greater efforts to disassociate Islam and Muslims from terrorism, at the inaugural Asia-Middle East dialogue in Singapore. Ministers and officials from around 40 nations and thePalestinian authority discussed terrorism, theproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, energypolicies and trade relations on the second day of thethree-day session. Palestinian Deputy Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullahbriefed delegates on the ongoing violence in the occupiedterritories, which has flared up again in recent daysleading to a summit between Israeli Prime Minister ArielSharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Jordan's King Abdullah said conflict resolution between Israel and the Palestinians would contribute to wider security in the region. "The future of the Middle East cannot be realized throughthe continuation of the status quo," he said in remarksread out by Bassem Awadallah, the vice-chair of the KingAbdullah Fund for Development. Malaysia, a moderate Southeast Asian Muslim country,pushed for more inter-faith dialogue to counter themisperception that Islam was linked to terror and the 9/11attacks on the United States. "One of the main victims of the September 11 events isIslam and Muslims. It is unfortunate that terrorism isoften associated with Islam," said Malaysia's DeputyForeign Affairs Minister Joseph Salang. The Associated Press quoted Salang as saying there was a "wrong impression created of Islam" and pressed for more dialogue to discuss the religion to create better understanding.--MORE1201 Local Time 0901 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/271438