An American terrorist suspect was seen here on Saturday but has since gone into hiding, police said today.

Ahmed Ibrahim Bilal, a US citizen, was spotted Saturday on the campus of the International Islamic University outside Kuala Lumpur, where he has been studying since January, local media reported.

But police chief Norian Mai said: "We are looking for him. We do not know where he is. We have alerted our security officials at all our entry and exit points."

Bilal was named by the US authorities Friday as one of six people charged with conspiring to wage war or jihad against the United States with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror network and Afghanistan's ousted rulers the Taliban.

Four of the six are in custody following a joint sweep by US law enforcement agencies in Portland, Oregon, and Detroit, Michigan, Attorney General John Ashcroft said.

Ahmed Bilal, 24, and Habis Abdulla al Saoub, 36, were named as fugitives. Five of the six men are US citizens.

Legal process

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that even if Bilal was arrested "we have to go through the legal process.

"We have no extradiction treaty with the United States. We can cooperate as much as possible (with the US) but it has be be done according to the law."

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said: "As far as the government is concerned he has not done anything wrong (in Malaysia). But as an American citizen, they have evidence against him and they want him."

Fellow students reacted with shock and disbelief when told that Bilal was wanted as a terror suspect. They described him as cheerful and friendly and "extremely religious with a deep knowledge of the Koran".

One student told the New Straits Times that when he saw Bilal on Saturday "he looked very nervous, and this I found to be strange because he is normally very cheerful".

Weapons training

The suspects were charged on four counts: conspiracy to levy war against the United States; conspiracy to provide material support for foreign terror groups; conspiracy to contribute services to al-Qaeda and the Taliban; and possession of firearms.

The indictment says that following the attacks on the United States on Sept 11, 2001, the defendants acquired firearms and took part in weapons training and began to travel to Afghanistan to join Taliban and al-Qaeda troops battling US forces.

Malaysia has supported the US war on terrorism and has detained 63 alleged Islamic militants belonging to a group linked to Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. AFP