(AFP) The family of detained Muslim leader Nur Misuari, who faces rebellion charges in Manila, sought today for the trial to be held in a third country, saying he would not get a fair trial in the Philippines.

"The Philippines, according to the International Monetary Fund, is the fourth most corrupt country in the world including its judiciary," family counsel Elly Pamatong told a news conference here.

"We do not expect an impartial trial in the Philippines. We would like him to be tried in a third country and if a third country determines that he's in fact a terrorist, then he should be sent back to the Philippines."

The 60-year-old former separatist guerrilla leader and six followers were arrested in Sabah on November 24 for illegal entry after fleeing a short-lived rebellion in the southern Philippines.

The attacks were meant to scuttle elections to choose his successor as governor of an impoverished Muslim self-rule area in the south which he has held since his Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) signed a peace pact with Manila in 1996.

Misuari faces rebellion charges, punishable by 20 years in prison, for allegedly instigating the violence that claimed more than 100 lives.

Black propaganda

But his second wife Roida T Misuari, who arrived here Sunday, dismissed what she called Manila's "black propaganda" that he was a terrorist and said he was merely acting in self-defence.

"He is not and can never be a terrorist ... it was purely in self-defence," she told the news conference.

"According to our sources, the fighting was triggered when the Philippines government troops disarmed some of the regular integrees in their barracks ... Misuari did not give the order to attack."

Pamatong warned Manila it would be "political suicide" to take Misuari back as it would "only enrage" Muslims in the southern Philippines.

"Probably Mindanao will become independent sooner than you think, most probably before 2004, there will be a Bangsamoro Republic of Mindanao."

Pamatong urged Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to review the decision to repatriate Misuari, saying his client has been cleared by Malaysian police of any links to the Abu Sayyaf Muslim terrorists.

"I am appealing to Prime Minister Mahathir in the name of nine children of Misuari: please reconsider your position because sending him back to the Philippines is as good as imposing a death sentence on him," he said.

"He should be given a chance to defend himself before the 57 members of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) before his life is placed in danger.

Only Malaysia and Indonesia are trying to determine whether this guy should live or die."

Repatriation soon

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has said she expected Misuari to be repatriated from Malaysia around January 15.

If Malaysia sticks to its decision to send Misuari back, Pamatong said the family would return to the Philippines to fight the court battle.

Roida expects to meet her husband this week. The rebel leader's third wife, Tarhata Misuari, was granted permission to visit him last Thursday for the first time since his detention.

Mahathir over the weekend said Malaysia, which once provided sanctuary to the MNLF in the 1970s and 80s, would not entertain a request from Misuari's family for a safe passage to a third country.

The Philippines has rejected a suggestion from the influential OIC for Malaysia to transfer Misuari for asylum to a third country.