The United States government welcomed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's sharp condemnation of terrorism and will work closely with Malaysia in the international effort to curb this menace, said US ambassador designate Marie T Huhtala today.

"The attacks on New York and Washington earlier this month were attacks on all of us," she said.

Huhtala who was speaking to reporters after arriving at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport this morning, said the US government was "deeply appreciative" of the condolences it received from Mahathir over the Sept 11 tragedy.

"We are also grateful for the enhanced protection and co-operation the Malaysian government has given to our embassy," she added.

Yesterday, Mahathir reiterated the government's support for the US but cautioned the superpower against launching an attack on Afghanistan.

"...terrorists are everywhere... even if Afghanistan is defeated and occupied by the western powers, this does not guarantee terrorism is defused, perhaps the terrorists may strike again elsewhere," said the premier.

The US has called on Afghanistan's ruling Taliban to extradite Osama bin Laden whom it suspects masterminded the Sept 11 attacks or face a military assault.

In the attacks, two hijacked passenger airlines crashed into the World Trade Center, reducing the 110-storey building to rubble while another aircraft ploughed into the Pentagon building.

Huhtala also extended her condolences to the families of those Malaysians who were among the victims of the terrorist attacks.

Close to six thousand people are believed to have perished and at least four Malaysians who were working in the WTC are still missing and presumed dead.

Meanwhile, Huhtala stressed that the US and Malaysia share close and cooperative ties in various areas such as regional stability and prosperity.

"The US is Malaysia's largest foreign investor and its largest export market. Many of our largest companies have operations here," she said.

She expressed hope that she would be able to travel throughout the country to exchange ideas with Malaysians on "issues including economic development and human rights".

However, the newly appointed US envoy who has 29 years of experience in the US Foreign Service did not take questions from reporters as she has not presented her credentials to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Political freedoms

Huhtala, who speaks French, Thai and Chinese, last served as the minister counselor and deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Thailand until July this year.

In July, prior to her appointment here, she said in her nomination statement to the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the US-Malaysia relationship "is not perfect" though it is generally a "positive one".

She reportedly said the US remained concerned by the case of jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and the treatment of political dissidents, with obvious reference to the two-year detention of six Keadilan leaders and pro-reform activists under the Internal Security Act.

If appointed, she was quoted as saying, she would continue to press the US' views on those incidents and work with Malaysia "to develop modern political freedoms to match its modernising economy".

Huhtala is preceeded by B Lynn Pascoe who served for a term of three years since 1998.