As the United States steps up its military campaign against Afghanistan, a group of local non-governmental organisations is asserting that any retaliation must be coursed through the United Nations first.

"There have been ugly precedents of US actions where certain countries suffered enormous losses for merely being suspected of wrongdoing and were [found to be innocent]," said the NGOs in a statement today.

Therefore any global fight against terrorism must be initiated by the United Nations and supported by all other nations, not by the unilateral action of the US, added the statement.

The memorandum signed by 23 organisations was addressed to US president George W Bush.

Among the organisations who signed the statement are the Islamic Youth Movement or Abim, The Consumers Association of Penang, Jemaah Islah Malaysia or JIM, Federation of Peninsular Malay Students or GPMS, and the Malaysian Sociological Research Institute.

The NGOs also called on the US to review its foreign policy, taking cognizance of the root causes of terrorism.

"Unless the US and its allies accept the responsibility for various injustices inflicted on third world countries, the problem of terrorism would never be solved," they said.

Following the Sept 11 attacks, Afghanistan has come under the crosshair of the US government for allegedly harbouring 'prime suspect' Osama bin Laden.

The US warned that it will attack Afghanistan if the ruling Taliban does not extradite Osama.

Thousands of US reservists and active duty military personnel have been put on a war footing under the US' 'Operation Enduring Freedom'.

However, the defiant Taliban said they will not extradite Osama without proof and warned the US that they will launch a 'holy war' should the superpower initiate an attack.

Innocent lives

The NGOs cautioned the US against launching an attack as it will put the lives of innocent civilians at risk.

"We condemn any attack on Afghanistan or on any country that will render the safety of civilians in jeopardy, especially if such an attack does not have any solid evidence to merit its launching," the statement read.

"The US which arrogates [to itself the epitome] of modern civilisation and human decency, should not equate itself with undignified terrorists in the conduct of war against terrorism," it added.

Many international aid agencies have also expressed concern for the loss of innocent lives in the event of a US attack.

Fears of an impending war have sparked an exodus of refugees from war-torn Afghanistan, with thousands pouring into neighbouring countries such as Tajikistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkmenistan and China.