PAS Youth today submitted a memorandum to the Philippines Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to protest the presence of United States troops that were there supposedly to fight rebels in the country's southern city of Zamboaga, just off the forested island of Basilan.

Party Youth chief Mahfuz Omar described the army's presence as a "new threat to Asean's security".

"We regret this move because it is a violation of peace, freedom and independence as advocated by Asean since its formation [in 1967] ," Mahfuz told reporters after the meeting with the embassy's secretary Giovanni Palic.

"We are of the opinion that like East and Central Asia, the region will not be peaceful, free or independent, due to the intervention of foreign powers," he added.

He said any conflict that arises within the confines of Asean should be resolved by member countries to preserve its freedom and independence.

Mahfuz, who had earlier led a delegation of six to meet with embassy officials, appeared from the one-hour meeting dissatisfied.

He said the youth wing did not accept the Philippine government's excuse that "the troops were there for training".

"Giovanni was not able to explain how large the troops were and how long they would remain in the country," said Mahfuz, who is also Pokok Sena member of parliament.

"He was unable to convince us that the troops were not there to assist the Philippines in terms of strategy, logistic and arms against rebels in the country," he added, further stating that the government had sent US troops to meet Zamboaga's chief army officer, Left-Gen Roy Cimatu, recently.

Legality questioned

Yesterday, AFP reported that the formal launch of joint operations by the Philippine and US militaries against the Abu Sayyaf guerillas has been postponed indefinitely due to procedural matters.

Despite the postponement, US military equipment and personnel continued to pour into this southern city just off the forested island of Basilan, the Abu Sayyaf stronghold.

The joint operations had been set to start Wednesday but US wanted clearer terms of what the troops can and cannot do, and was consulting the US Pacific Command based in Hawaii, officials said.

Several groups in the Philippines had questioned the legality of US' involvement in the operation against the Abu Sayyaf, allegedly linked to Saudi militant Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network blamed for the Sept 11 terror attacks on the US.

Soon after the attacks, US has labelled Asean a "breeding ground for terrorists".