The Malaysian government must provide military assistance to Afghanistan which is being bombarded by the United States and Britain, said PAS Youth chief Mahfuz Omar today.

He also urged the government to mobilise the member states of the Organisation of Islamic Countries to fight against the US, "in any manner required".

"OIC should declare the US as a terrorist state and the number one enemy of Islam," said Mahfuz in a press statement.

The opposition leader also called on the government to temporarily severe all diplomatic and economic ties with the US - Malaysia's largest foreign investor and export market.

The government must "make its stand clear" on the actions by the US and British forces against Afghanistan by taking various measures, including military assistance, he said.

Apart from this, Mahfuz suggested the government launch a 'buy American last' campaign as well as provide food and medical support to the Afghans.

Government ambiguous

Mahfuz said the party Youth was disappointed with the government, which has an "ambiguous" stand on the attacks on Afghanistan.

"On one hand, the prime minister has opposed the military actions but on the other hand, the foreign minister said he was satisfied with the evidence and explanation given by the US for attacking Afghanistan," he said.

Since the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in the US, the Malaysian government has taken a cautious stand on the issue pledging to combat terrorism with the international community but opposing an attack on Afghanistan.

Last week, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad urged Asean countries not to take part in a military retaliation on Afghanistan as it could lead to innocent casualties.

However, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar later said he was shown a confidential report by the US ambassador, and was convinced that the US' attack on Afghanistan was to counter terrorism and not an act of revenge.

UN should take action

Meanwhile, Mahfuz also urged the United Nations to put a stop to the US military actions.

"If the UN fails to resolve the problem, there may be more violence and terrorism across the world," he said.

Yesterday, PAS - which claims some 800,000 members - called for a jihad (hold war) against the US but added that the party has not issued any directive for its members to go to Afghanistan.

"The jihad covers a wide spectrum including calling for peace and justice and not just taking up arms," PAS secretary-general Nasharudin Mat Isa was quoted as saying.

On Sunday, US and British forces began their military assault against Afghanistan by unleashing a volley of missiles targeted at several key cities.

The retaliation followed the repeated refusal by the Afghanistan's ruling Taliban to hand over "prime suspect" Osama bin Laden.