ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP) - Philippines President Gloria Arroyo said today she has asked Malaysia and Indonesia for help as she seeks to crush a fresh Muslim revolt that has claimed more than 100 lives in the south.

Manila hopes to contain the rebellion in the remote island of Jolo, near the common sea border of the three Southeast Asian countries.

The government today cancelled the passport of its alleged leader Nur Misuari, a former Muslim separatist guerrilla leader, amid fears that he would flee to Malaysia or Indonesia.

Malaysia and Indonesia are both members of an Organisation of Islamic Conference committee that monitors the progress of a peace deal signed between Misuari and the government in 1996.

Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri has been "very supportive and said I should let her know what needs to be done," Arroyo told reporters.

"I have already sent word" to Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, she added.

The Filipino leader said Megawati also told her the latter "did get to talk very briefly with Prime Minister Mahathir yesterday".

'No confirmation'

There has been "no confirmation" of the Philippine military's report that Misuari has fled to Sabah," Arroyo stressed.

And while Manila did not have extradition treaties with either country, serving an arrest warrant issued by a Filipino court in case he landed in Sabah was "part of what was discussed and is being discussed with Malaysia".

Arroyo said the rebellion would end with the arrest of Misuari, who has been suspended as governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) following the Jolo attacks on Monday that left at least 113 people dead and scores wounded.

Arroyo's support for a rival faction in Misuari's Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in next Monday's ARMM elections apparently sparked the revolt.

A Jolo court yesterday ordered Misuari arrested and tried for rebellion, which carries a 20-year jail term.

Senior foreign department official Franklin Ebdalin said Misuari's regular as well as a separate diplomatic passport have both been withdrawn.

"He's a fugitive from justice and the passport law says that one of the grounds for the cancellation of the passport is that the holder should be a fugitive from justice," Ebdalin said.

"We have already coordinated with the Malaysian authorities and the indication is that the Malaysian authorities will help us effect the arrest of Misuari - to turn him over in case he is there in Malaysia," National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said.

Malaysia will not allow itself to be "used as a launching point" for Misuari's rebellion, he added.

Military aid

Arroyo said she is confident her candidate, Parouk Hussin, will win as ARMM governor in Monday's vote. She has already cancelled a planned visit to the south to campaign for him.

Arroyo flew back to the Philippines early today after a nine-day visit to the United States and Mexico. She said the visit led to a US pledge for US$100 million in military aid for the next fiscal year, a big jump from the US$1.9 million handed out in the current year.

Arroyo said the package includes training, as well as equipment to increase the mobility of the Filipino military forces who are now fighting at least three Muslim groups in the south aside from a communist rebellion.

Filipino military officials say Misuari has entered into a tactical alliance with the Abu Sayyaf, a guerrilla group that operates in Jolo and on nearby Basilan island and which has links to global terror suspect Osama bin Laden.