The government today criticised Australia over its decision to send troops to fight in Iraq, saying it smacked of anti-Muslim bias.

"I do not see what is the threat of Iraq o­n Australia," Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told reporters o­n the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) retreat in Karambunia, Sabah.

"Australia seems to be thinking that they must follow everything that the US decides.

"Australia is so remote from the war and the effects of the war but because Iraq is a country in the Middle East, maybe they don't like Muslim countries. That is very dangerous."

In breach of law

The Australian government yesterday committed 2,000 military personnel to a US-led war in Iraq following a formal request from US President George W Bush.

"It is just a get together of people who want to destroy a country, destroy a people and commit for a regime change," Syed Hamid said, adding that a war without United Nations support would contravene international law.

"I think it will be a catastrophe and the sufferers of all this is the civilian population. There will a lot of refugees and I am not so sure the war will be short," he said.

Muslim-majority Malaysia has been hailed by Washington for its support in the war o­n terrorism, but has repeatedly warned that an attack o­n Baghdad would inflame Islamic extremists and increase recruits to the ranks of terrorist organisations. AFP