JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (ANTARA News/AFP) - The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on Tuesday denounced the "excessive" use of force by Libyan authorities to quash a popular uprising against strongman Moamer Kadhafi.

OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu "expressed his firm condemnation of the use of excessive force against civilians in Libya," read a statement issued by the world`s largest Muslim organisation.

The OIC "condemns the human catastrophe which contradicts the values of Islam and humanism," it added.

Ihsanoglu also urged Libyan authorities to end repression and open "serious dialogue" with the protesters, who have been demanding Kadhafi step down in increasingly heated demonstrations since February 15.

Rights groups estimates that between 200 and 400 people have been killed since the start of the protests.(*)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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