BBC: Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has urged Muslim countries to boycott a planned US-sponsored Middle East peace conference next month.
He said the aim of the meeting was to bolster Israel's position at the expense of the Palestinians.
The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, hopes it will kick-start substantive talks with Israel on the creation of a Palestinian state.
But the Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, opposes the conference.
Because Hamas will not recognise Israel, renounce violence, or accept previous Palestinian agreements with Israel, it has not been invited. Iran leader urges summit boycott (more)
Mark Alexander
