BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (AFP) - Malaysia is pushing for the United Nations to lead the war against terrorism and remains opposed to the US-led bombing in Afghanistan, foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar said today.

Syed Hamid said Malaysia's position had received favourable response from several other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), whose leaders are meeting here for annual talks.

He said other Asean member states felt "there should be cooperation in combatting terrorism in a comprehensive manner at regional or international level under the auspices of the UN."

Syed Hamid said the US-led air strikes should stop immediately since the bombings would not flush out the terrorists who staged the attacks in the United States on Sept 11.

"Using the arsenal of war has not brought out the terrorists. It has created humanitarian problems. Innocent civilians suffer," he said.

Far reaching consequences

Syed Hamid said if the US bombing - which had been going on for the last four weeks - was long and drawn out, it would have deep and far reaching political and economic consequences.

"We feel the bombing and war will not solve the problem of getting the terrorists," he said.

Asked if Asean had reached a common position to urge the US to stop the bombing, Syed Hamid said: "Each individual country is making its own position."

Singapore and the Philippines have backed the US-led military strikes in Afghanistan but the region's biggest Muslim nations - Indonesia and Malaysia - have criticised the attacks, which have exacted heavy casualties among civilians.

Syed Hamid said Malaysia hoped that Asean would continue to be a strong body playing an important role in international affairs and would work together for a common objective to ensure economic growth.

The seventh Asean summit will be the first meeting of all the Southeast Asian leaders since the September terror attacks in the United States.

Asean comprises Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam.