<p> Malaysia and Egypt have agreed to ask "international power brokers" to help stop escalating violence in the Middle East, the Muslim-majority Southeast Asian country said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a statement from his office that Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi called him last night to discuss the latest Israeli air strikes on Hamas-controlled Gaza.<br /><br />"Both countries agreed to ask international power brokers to influence Israel to stop its military aggression towards the Palestinian people," said the statement issued after the 15-minute call.<br /><br />"They also urged Hamas to refrain from action that will escalate the conflict into a bigger confrontation," it added.<br /><br />Najib also said Malaysia was "deeply concerned" over the crisis and was ready to help "in any way possible".<br /><br />"The events once more underline the need for a Middle East peace process, and we call on international power brokers to step in to help ensure enduring peace in the region," he said in the statement.<br /><br />Najib will also use a summit of Southeast Asian leaders next week in Phnom Penh to call for international support of the Palestinians' bid to become an observer state in the United Nations.<br /><br />US President Barack Obama is also attending the meeting. An aide to Najib confirmed that the prime minister would discuss the issue at the summit.<br /><br />Malaysia has long been a staunch supporter of the Palestinians' aspirations of statehood.<br /><br />Yesterday, more than 100 people demonstrated outside the US embassy in the capital Kuala Lumpur against the "incessant Israeli attack" on Gaza, urging the US to stop "one-sided support for Israel and be an honest broker".<br />Dozens of people have died in two days of violence.<br /></p>
<p> Malaysia and Egypt have agreed to ask "international power brokers" to help stop escalating violence in the Middle East, the Muslim-majority Southeast Asian country said.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a statement from his office that Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi called him last night to discuss the latest Israeli air strikes on Hamas-controlled Gaza.<br /><br />"Both countries agreed to ask international power brokers to influence Israel to stop its military aggression towards the Palestinian people," said the statement issued after the 15-minute call.<br /><br />"They also urged Hamas to refrain from action that will escalate the conflict into a bigger confrontation," it added.<br /><br />Najib also said Malaysia was "deeply concerned" over the crisis and was ready to help "in any way possible".<br /><br />"The events once more underline the need for a Middle East peace process, and we call on international power brokers to step in to help ensure enduring peace in the region," he said in the statement.<br /><br />Najib will also use a summit of Southeast Asian leaders next week in Phnom Penh to call for international support of the Palestinians' bid to become an observer state in the United Nations.<br /><br />US President Barack Obama is also attending the meeting. An aide to Najib confirmed that the prime minister would discuss the issue at the summit.<br /><br />Malaysia has long been a staunch supporter of the Palestinians' aspirations of statehood.<br /><br />Yesterday, more than 100 people demonstrated outside the US embassy in the capital Kuala Lumpur against the "incessant Israeli attack" on Gaza, urging the US to stop "one-sided support for Israel and be an honest broker".<br />Dozens of people have died in two days of violence.<br /></p>