(AFP) Muslims have been urged not to respond to calls for " jihad ", or holy war, against the United States if it launches retaliatory attacks on Afghanistan, a report said today.

"Our advice to Muslims in Malaysia is that for the moment don't get involved. Let's not act hastily," Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's religious adviser Abdul Hamid Othman was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times .

He said local Muslims should follow the country's policy of non-interference in the affairs of other nations.

However, PAS spiritual leader, Nik Aziz Nik Mat, said the world's Muslims would feel duty-bound to support any Islamic nation that was victimised.

They could show their support by sending people or money to such countries or by praying for the people there, he was quoted as saying by The Sun newspaper.

The United States has demanded that Afghanistan hand over Islamic extremist Osama bin Laden, named as the prime suspect behind the Sept 11 attacks on New York and Washington, or face military action.

Afghanistan's Taliban regime has responded by saying it would declare holy war if the US attacked.