(AFP) An opposition leader today urged the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to mark his award of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize by seeking a halt to the military strikes on Afghanistan.

DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang, called on Annan to convene an emergency security council meeting to stop the bombings and provide aid to civilians before winter approaches.

"Annan should use his new stature and influence to secure the support of the UN Security Council to save the Afghan people from the looming humanitarian catastrophe before the onset of winter by stopping all United States-led air strikes in the country while forging a UN-led global anti-terrorism alliance," he said in a statement.

The veteran politician also called on President George W Bush to heed the growing chorus of international calls to stop air strikes in Afghanistan not only to save innocent lives but also to provide humanitarian aid for the Afghan people.

"DAP has right from the begining called on the US to cease air strikes and resort to international legal cooperation toend terrorism as the Sept 11 attacks were criminal acts and perpetrators whould be brought to justice through the internationallegal system," he said.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has voiced support to the US war on terrorism but objected to its attacks in Afganistan, said yesterday the government would write to Annan, asking him to convene a meeting on terrorism.