The movement will rely on leading international women to promote peace and "establish connections with associations all over the world, to do some networking," Suzanne Mubarak told journalists here.

Although the group follows in the steps of the Women for Peace conference that Mubarak organised in Sharm el-Sheikh last September, she said it would deal with conflict prevention throughout the world, not only in the Middle East.

Mubarak said she would be counting on personalities who took part in the conference such as Queen Rania of Jordan, Ireland's President Mary McAleese, and Nana Rawlings, the wife of Ghana's former leader.

"It is not a first ladies' movement," Mubarak insisted, saying she wanted women at community level to be involved.

The association was registered in Switzerland, but will be run from Cairo.

WAR.WIRE