KUALA LUMPUR A coalition comprising more than 100 Malaysian non-governmental organisations launched a peace campaign yesterday to protest against a US war against Iraq.

The coalition, called Peace Malaysia, was formed last month and is led by the youth wing of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno).

It aims to collect a million signatures to be handed over to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad next month so he can "voice our concern" to leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement at their February 20-25 summit, said Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein.

He told reporters that the campaign was to protest US hyprocrisy in its treatment of Iraq, compared with North Korea and Israel, which also have weapons of mass destruction.

"In the name of the anti-terror campaign, there have been many inconsistencies and much hyprocrisy in the US action," said Hishammuddin, who is also youth and sports minister.

"Malaysians call on the US and its allies to stop their aggression against Iraq, whose people have suffered long enough during the Gulf War and in the decade-long UN-imposed economic sanctions.

"Malaysians also urge Western powers, in particular the US, to stop Israel's war crimes against Palestine."

Banners on display

A peace rally and concert will be held on February 23, where they will hand over the signatures and memorandum to Mahathir, Hishammuddin said.

Earlier, some 200 people held banners reading: "Stop war on Iraq," "Ban weapons of mass destruction everywhere" and "Stop war crimes against Palestine" at the launching ceremony.

The Malaysian government has objected to any unilateral action against Iraq and insisted that any action must be made through the United Nations.

Mahathir warned this week that an attack on Iraq would hurt the fight against international terrorism, inflame Muslim anger and increase the number of recruits to terrorist ranks. AFP