(AFP) - Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today urged the United States to halt attacks on Afghanistan, saying they would not help curb terrorism.

Responding to a question on whether the US should stop the bombing Mahathir said: "They should of course. We're against such an attack because I don't think it is going to help in combating terrorism.

"It may hit a lot of other people but not the terrorists. It should be pointed out that the alleged terrorists were not even Afghans."

Mahathir said it was "tragic enough that any country should be attacked" and expressed concern that many more innocent people would suffer if the US-led forces also attacked other countries.

Speaking to reporters after opening a two-day conference of Islamic tourism ministers, Mahathir said the government would write to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to ask him to convene a meeting on terrorism.

"We want to have a conference on terrorism because there is a lot of confusion. Some people who are fighting for their own independence are also described as terrorists," he said.

"What are the things that people can do or should not do must be determined. Even if people have to fight for their own independence, there are certain things that they shouldn't do, among which is to kill innocent people."

'No specific evidence'

Asked if Malaysia was convinced by US evidence linking Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network to the September 11 attacks, he said: "The evidence is not specific. They indicate certain things but there is nothing that we can do, there is no role for Malaysia."

He believed the Muslim world would "come out of this crisis stronger than ever because it will be shown that it is not only Muslims who are terrorists, other people are also terrorists."

Mahathir said a move by opposition PAS declaring a "jihad" or holy war over the attacks on Afghanistan was a pitch for votes and unlikely to receive much response.

"PAS is trying to win votes by appearing to be very fanatical about defending Islam. PAS has actually damaged Islam by splitting the Muslims in this country. They have weakened us, that's all they have done. They have done nothing for Islam."

PAS Wednesday gave the go-ahead for its members to join the fight in Afghanistan but said it would not sponsor them and that its definition of jihad covered a wide range of action including calling for peace, prayers and financial aid.

Mahathir said the government would not stop PAS supporters from going to Afghanistan.

"If they think they want to go, they can go. We're not stopping them but we're not backing them either. I think they'll be wasting their time."