A rights group Friday accused the government of using the fight against terrorism as a "pretext" for abusing human rights and urged US Secretary of State Colin Powell to speak out on the matter when he visits here next week.

"(Powell) should call on the government to stop using the pretext of preventing terrorism in arresting its political opponents and curbing the fundamental freedoms of its people," human rights movement Suaram said in a statement.

Powell is due to arrive here late Monday during a swing through six Southeast Asian countries, with the US-led war on terrorism top of his agenda.

He is scheduled to meet Tuesday with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who won praise from the US for his support since the Sept 11 attacks blamed on hardline Islamists.

Mahathir's government has detained without trial 62 alleged members of Muslim militant groups, some suspected of links to the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.

But Suaram spokesman Yap Swee Seng said Powell should urge Malaysia to release all political detainees or charge them in court.

Six supporters of jailed former deputy president Anwar Ibrahim, regarded by the US government as a political prisoner, have also been detained for more than a year and Yap urged Powell to raise the issue with the authorities.

"Suaram believes in the long run, only the prevalence of justice, civil liberty and democracy can overcome the threat of terrorism and provide long-lasting peace and security to the people in any part of the world," Yap said. AFP