An attack on Iraq by the United States would increase Islamic hatred and prolong the war against terrorism, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said today.

Mahathir urged the US not to go it alone with a military offensive.

"We want to avoid arousing the anger and hatred of the Muslims. If itattacks Iraq, even Iraq's enemies, including Saudi Arabia, will not agree," Mahathir was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

"If it insists on attacking, surely the Muslims will feel discriminated against and the Islamic governments' hatred (will increase)."

He accused the US of practising double standards "with its wish to bomb Iraq".

"On the one hand it tells the nations of the world to follow international rules but on the other hand, if the rule is not beneficial to the US, they ignore it."

Poor people

Mahathir said he believed the United Nations should ask Iraq to allow weapons inspectors back into the country and then reduce sanctions.

"(Imposing) sanctions is not hurting (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein, it is not going to make him die.

"It hurts the poor people of Iraq, including those who are sick, those who are old, babies. These are the people who are paying the price for sanctions."

Mahathir, who has won praise from the US for his support of the war on terror, defended Malaysia's record over US intelligence reports that members of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network met in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, early in 2000.

"It does not mean when they come to the country, we are giving them sanctuary or support. We do not know who they are... we are not aware," he said.