Malaysia opposes air strikes

Malaysian Riot Police stand guard outside the U.S. Embassy near Kuala Lumpur's Petronas twin towers

By CNN's Craig Francis

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- The Malaysian government and the Islamic opposition have been united in voicing their opposition to the U.S. and British air strikes on Afghanistan, saying innocent people will die.

Despite the strong political condemnation, Malaysian streets have been relatively quiet, without the anti-American mass protests seen in the neighboring Islamic country, Indonesia.

"We will not take any action or support this action," Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said at the opening of parliament.

The President of Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), the largest opposition party, was critical of the attacks.

Fadzil Noor, said the attacks were not only against Afghanistan's Taliban rulers but were a direct assault on Muslims.

"America attacked a small and defenceless country like Afghanistan without showing the world strong reason or proof, they are war criminals," he said.

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Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president of PAS and one of its main spiritual leaders, warned the hunt for Osama bin Laden, the chief suspect for the September 11 attacks on the United States, could rally more followers to the Saudi-born militant's cause.

"Even if they manage to kill Osama, it will create another 100 Osamas," Hadi Awang said.

But the vocal opposition from PAS appeared unlikely to result in high profile public protests.

"If we hold anti-war demonstrations now, the (Malaysian) government who is supporting the US will attack us," he said.

Malaysia's population of 23 million is around two-thirds Muslim and is regarded as a moderate Islamic state and one of the more stable countries in southeast Asia.

Mahathir, who has backed Washington's war on terrorism but not an attack on Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, said an outright war could result in "catastrophe" in the central Asian state.

"Conventional war cannot overcome terrorism and defeat terrorists, it can only result in innocent people becoming victims," Mahathir said.

"The terrorists may get away. Even if they are killed or captured, so long as there are still terrorists around, there's no guarantee that others will not terrorize."

"That is why the Malaysian government does not agree with declaring war against countries said to be harboring terrorism. It will only lead to catastrophe for such a country," he said.

Peacekeeping forces

Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Malaysia wanted the U.S. to focus its attention in hunting down the terrorists and not attack any country, he said.

"Malaysia wants the US to focus on tackling the terrorists' problem only," he told reporters.

Najib said Malaysia was firm in its stand that terrorists must be hunted and eliminated, and it would back the United States' efforts towards this end.

He said Malaysia was prepared to consider the request from the United Nations to send Malaysian peacekeepers to any country if the purpose was to contribute towards peace.

The US embassy earlier issued a statement saying police were protecting the embassy compound in Kuala Lumpur and patrolling areas with communities of Americans and other foreigners.