Western leaders were accused of being callous killers using the war o­n terrorism as a pretext to dominate the world, as the 116-nation Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit opened here today.

The charge was laid by an impassioned Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who takes over from South Africa as chairperson of the organisation, before a record number of more than 50 heads of state or government.

"It is no longer just a war against terrorism," the veteran Southeast Asian leader told the opening session. "It is in fact a war to dominate the world."

In a vitriolic attack over the threat to invade Iraq, which is a member of the movement, Mahathir compared the political and military leaders of the world's great powers unflatteringly with suicide terrorists.

While the terrorists died as they attacked, "the great warriors who press the buttons see nothing of the mangled bodies, the heads and limbs which are torn from disemboweled bodies, the blood and the gore of the innocent people.

"And because they don't see, the button-pressing warriors and the people who commanded them go back to enjoy a hearty meal, watch TV shows or morale boosting troop entertainers and then retire to their cosy beds for a good sleep."