Judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi on Monday called for formation of a judicial council of Muslim states.

Shahroudi, who is on a three-day visit to Malaysia, told his Malaysian counterpart that formation of the council is necessary for establishment of an international court with judicial and legal duties.

He said such a council can be the key to many problems of the world of Islam, presenting a model of Islamic human rights and methods of countering the west's challenges.

He added that many judicial officials in Muslim states believe such a proposal to be a good initiative. To this end, a center has been established in Iran to serve as secretariat of the council and follow up the case, he noted.

The Iranian official said the arbitration councils, which handled five million cases -- half of which peacefully -- in Iran in three years, are a good models for Muslim states' judicial systems.

Ayatollah Shahroudi arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday for a three-day visit.

Source: Islamic Republic News Agency