(AFP) Scores of supporters of PAS held a noisy gathering outside the US embassy today to protest possible US military action in Afghanistan.

The protestors chanted "Go to hell US" and "Long live Islam".

"The aim of the gathering is to urge the US not to stike Afghanistan following the September 11 terrorist attacks," PAS youth chief Mahfuz Omar told AFP.

Mahfuz claimed some 200 people participated in the protest but police said there were only about 50 demonstrators.

A dozen policemen kept a close eye on the incident-free protest which lasted for about 15 minutes.

Mahfuz and two other PAS officials earlier delivered a memorandum to the US embassy's first secretary, W Gary Gray, appealing to President George W Bush not to wage war on Afghanistan.

The United States has named Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, who has been sheltered by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, as its prime suspect for the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Memo to OIC

Mahfuz warned that more and larger gatherings would be organised in Kuala Lumpur and outside the US embassy if the US attacked Afghanistan because it could cause the deaths of innocent people.

"They should not make accusations without proof. US has a stereotype image of Islam. They often tie Islam to violence," he said.

Mahfuz also said PAS would submit another memorandum to diplomats of the Organistation of Islamic Conference urging them not to cooperate with the US in any war against Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has condemned the September 11 terror attacks in the US, but opposes a war in response.

"We have to object to any intended war as we do not see it as a solution," he said at the weekend.

Mahathir called on the United Nations to organise an international conference on terrorism to determine its causes and formulate measures to deal with it.