"We regret that after having sacrificed a great deal for the benefit of his compatriots, Misuari was lured by circumstances to take the unconventional step in the wrong direction," he said in a statement.

Misuari fled the Philippines last week after allegedly masterminding a series of attacks on security installations in the southern island of Jolo in which at least 113 people died. He was arrested on Saturday off an island in Sabah.

He reportedly staged the revolt after Philippine President Gloria Arroyo backed a rival faction within his Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in polls for the post of governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Ahmad urged Manila not to invite US troops into the troubled region as it could destabilise the Southeast Asian region.

"We call upon Manila... to keep the Americans out of the region. The entry of American forces may open the floodgates of Asean instability," he said.

No asylum

Ahmad appealed to Misuari's supporters to end their rebellion and rebuild Muslim Mindanao.

Hishammuddin Hussein, youth chief of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's ruling United Malays National Organisation said Misuari was his friend but he did not support his action.

"Although I know Misuari personally, we cannot let individuals smear the name of Islam. We cannot let individuals equate the name of Islam with violence," he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times newspaper.

"Regional and national security must take precedence," Hishammuddin added.

Mahathir had said Misuari would not be granted asylum by Muslim-majority Malaysia, which gave him and his guerrillas sanctuary in the early 1970s.

He criticised Misuari's MNLF faction for failing to develop the ARMM, where he had been governor since signing a peace treaty with Manila in 1996.

Malaysia on Monday said it was preparing to deport Misuari, but was studying a request by Arroyo that it put the troublesome former governor on trial for illegal entry.