(AFP) The government will not meddle in the US strikes in Afghanistan although it protests the deaths of civilians, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said today.

He was commenting on a suggestion by a cabinet colleague that Malaysia should initiate moves to charge the US in the International Court of Justice for killing innocent people in Afghanistan.

Rais Yatim, minister in the prime minister's department, this week described the US as a "terrorising state" for its bombing in Afghanistan in retaliation over the September 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington.

"I think there is no necessity," Syed Hamid told reporters when asked to comment on Rais's remarks.

"There is no need for us to follow up because in this particular case, Malaysia is not the country involved. We leave it at that, it is not for us to decide on behalf of other countries."

Malaysia has condemned the attacks on New York and Washington but also criticises the retaliation in Afghanistan, saying it will kill innocent people without stamping out terrorism.