KABUL (AFP) - Afghanistan's top religious council Friday called for a national conference including the Taliban to discuss ending the country's growing violence, with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah playing a role. The call is similar to one made by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has also appealed to the Saudi leader to help the war-ravaged country, where 75,000 foreign soldiers are currently deployed against an insurgency. The influential Afghanistan National Council of Ulemma (Religious Scholars) also said that those Taliban who attended the conference should have their names removed from a US "terrorist" blacklist and be guaranteed UN protection. Copies of the resolution, reached after a five-day meeting last week attended by religious scholars from across the country, were distributed by Karzai's office. "To ensure a full security as a key element in the country's progress, the council unanimously decided that the traditional Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) be convened," it said. This assembly should involve religious scholars, intellectuals, tribal leaders,it said.. The United Nations and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference should also attend, the resolution said. "For the anti-government forces to participate with confidence in the Loya Jirga, we suggest that their names be removed from the blacklist and that the United Nations guarantee their safety," it said. The meeting had unanimously decided that the lead role in negotiating with the Taliban be given to King Abdullah because of his country's standing in Islam. "We are proud of the holy land and therefore call upon (King Abdullah) to kindly accept our request of helping relieve our pains," the resolution said. Saudi Arabia was one of only three countries that recognised the 1996-2001 Taliban regime, which allowed Al-Qaeda militant training camps in Afghanistan. Karzai said last year that he had asked the Saudi leader to help engage the Taliban militia in reconciliation talks to find a way out a growing insurgency. There have been reports of meetings in Saudi Arabia between Afghan officials and formers members of the Taliban but officials have denied that there have been any formal peace talks. US President Barack Obama's calls this month for contacts to be explored with "moderate" Taliban have given new impetus to the Kabul government's push for peace talks. The government has insisted, however, it would give amnesty only to fighters who renounce violence and accept the post-Taliban constitution, which includes rights and freedoms forbidden by the Taliban regime.