Malaysian PM calls for raid halt amid protests

Islamic groups have held protests outside the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said he thinks that the U.S.-led air strikes on Afghanistan should be halted.

His comments came as Malaysian police used water cannon to disperse more than 1,000 protesters demonstrating outside the U.S. embassy.

It was the largest protest seen in this Southeast Asian nation since the air strikes began, reflecting mounting disapproval in predominantly Muslim Malaysia.

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.

AUDIO Secretary General of the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS), Nasharudin Mat Isa, on his party's demands after a demonstration in Kuala Lumpur. 2.39 MBs / 2 mins 45secs WAV sound

The protesters, shouting "Allahu Akhbar" (God is Great) and carrying banners reading "Afghan Is Our Brother" and "Go To Hell America," marched to the heavily-fortified U.S. embassy after Friday prayers, witnesses told Reuters news agency.

The rally was organized by the main Muslim opposition party, the Parti Islam se-Malaysia, whose president, Fadzil Noor, was allowed inside the embassy to deliver a statement.

Many Malay Muslims have condemned the strikes on Afghanistan saying innocent people will die.

The government has refused to support the U.S.-led strikes but has backed Washington's war on terrorism after the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Limit to patience

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But in a growing sign that there is a limit to the patience of Muslim countries and there is some skepticism among them about whether air raids will help fight terrorism, the country's leader hinted they should end soon.

"Well, they should of course," Mahathir said in reply to a reporter's question whether the United States should stop the attacks that entered their fifth straight night on Thursday.

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

"We are against such an attack because I don't think it's going to help in combating terrorism because you may hit a lot of other people but not the terrorists," he said.

Mahathir has previously refused to support the air strikes, while the main Muslim opposition party has condemned them outright.