AMMAN: The leader of Jordan’s opposition Muslim Brotherhood accused France yesterday of “total bias” toward Israel in the Gaza crisis and urged a boycott of French products, the group’s website said.

“Muslim and Arab nations should boycott French products in response to President Nicolas Sarkozy’s remarks about Hamas,” the Palestinian group, Hammam Saeed said in a statement on the site.

“The French position reveals open hostility toward Muslims and Arabs and total bias toward Israel, and also serves Zionist interests.” Sarkozy blamed Hamas on Monday for the suffering of Palestinians inside the embattled Gaza Strip, where Israel’s 12-day-old war has now killed at least 666 people.

“Hamas acted in an irresponsible and unforgivable manner... Hamas is to blame for the suffering of the Palestinians,” Sarkozy said. He made his comments after arriving in Israel for talks with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in the occupied West Bank and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem.

“We cannot remain silent about France’s position. France will get a clear message if the more than one billion Muslims boycott its products,” Saeed said.

Malaysians decide boycott of US goods

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 2,000 restaurants in Malaysia will remove Coca-Cola from their menus as part of a boycott of American products in protest against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, officials said yesterday.

American companies are being targeted because of the US government’s support of Israel, which is carrying out a military offensive on Gaza that it says is aimed at stopping rocket attacks from the Hamas-controlled territory. The nationwide boycott will be launched tomorrow by several Muslim groups after Friday prayers, said Ma’mor Osman, secretary-general of the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association which is leading the campaign.

In addition to Coca-Cola, he said they have identified some 100 other products ranging from food to beauty and clothing such as Starbucks, Colgate, McDonald’s and Maybelline.

Istanbul’s Muslims give blood for Gaza

ISTANBUL: Several thousand Muslims in the Turkish city of Istanbul donated blood for the victims of the Israeli attacks on Gaza yesterday, an AFP correspondent said.

Queues stretched out in front of the two blood bank tents which had been set up by the Red Crescent on the outskirts of the city. Each tent can hold up to 50 patients at a time.

“This year, the tents are close to breaking point. How could we do anything else when we see what is happening in Palestine?” asked 33-year-old Aytekin Sayan.

Turkey to form international force

ANKARA: A Middle Eastern diplomat says Turkey will be given the task of constructing an international force for Gaza.The diplomat says “Turkey is the best choice given its involvement in several peacekeeping missions in the Middle East.” The diplomat is familiar with Turkey’s efforts to end the conflict.

It was not clear what role the force would play in Gaza. However, private CNN-Turk television, citing unnamed Foreign Ministry sources, said Turkey had not received such a request, but was ready to participate in a monitoring force if a cease-fire is achieved.