CANBERRA - Australian Prime Minister John Howard is urging the nation to be wary but not to panic after Afghanistan's ruling Taleban declared a holy war on it.
Islamic leaders in Australia want local Muslims to ignore the jihad call. The Taleban ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Salam Zaeef, has said that Australia is a target, along with the United States and Britain, as one of a handful of nations to commit troops to the US-led strikes on Afghanistan.
But Howard, whose firm backing of the US action has boosted his popularity ahead of next Saturday's election, said Australia was prepared to meet any threat, having increased security measures since the September 11 attacks on the US.
"We can't ignore it, we can't pretend something will never happen here, but on the other hand we shouldn't be overwhelmed by it and we have to get on with our lives," Howard told Tasmanian radio after the holy war declaration hit front pages nationwide.
"It is a mixture of care and vigilance on one hand, but not in any sense panic or overreaction on the other hand."
The jihad stole the media spotlight from domestic political issues yesterday, playing to Howard's strategy of promoting himself as the stronger leader to cope with global insecurity with his rhetoric on national defence dominating his campaign.
Australia has committed 1550 military personnel, four fighter aircraft, three frigates and two refuelling aircraft to the US-led operation to force the Taleban to hand over militant Osama bin Laden, the chief suspect of the September 11 attacks.
Leading Islamic groups urged Australia's 700,00 Muslims scattered among the population of 19 million not to heed the Taleban's declaration of a holy war, or jihad.
Although local Islamic leaders believe the majority of Australians would ignore Zaeef's call, there has been evidence of some radicals taking action with several Muslim protesters believed to be behind recent church attacks.
But the attacks came after several mosques in Australia were firebombed and Muslims attacked in the streets in the wake of the September 11 events.
"Muslims here should not be provoked by this, not react and maintain calm and dignity," said Amjad Ali Mehboob, chief executive of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils.
"The Taleban is not the leader of the Muslim community in Australia or in the world."
Political commentators said Zaeef's declaration of a jihad against Australia could be a further electoral boost for Howard
From Cairo it was reported that bin Laden, in a statement mostly made up of quotations from the Koran and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, had called on Pakistanis to "make Islam victorious", saying the Government there has chosen to stand "under the banner of the cross".
"The world has been divided into two camps: one under the banner of the cross, as the head of infidels, [US President George W.] Bush, has said, and one under the banner of Islam," said bin Laden in a statement sent to the Qatari-based Al-Jazeera satellite television channel.
"The Pakistani Government has stood under the banner of the cross," said bin Laden.
Pakistan has sided with the US in its war against Afghanistan's Taleban regime and bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network.
Believers, he said, should not rest before "they bring victory to truth and its people, and defeat falsehood and its people, with God's permission. Your stance against evil gives us heart.
"The heat of the crusade against Islam has intensified, its ardour has increased and the killing has multiplied against the followers of Muhammad ... in Afghanistan."
The Pakistan Government is under increasing pressure over its support for the US-led coalition's war against terrorism.
Pakistan has allowed the Americans to use three airfields for logistical support and search and rescue operations linked to the attacks on Afghanistan, but has said no military operations may be launched from its soil.
In Washington, the White House told lawmakers it may seek to cut tariffs on Pakistani products for up to three years as part of a package to reward Islamabad.
But US textile manufacturers were making last-ditch efforts to prevent the cuts, saying they went too far. The trade benefits, subject to congressional approval, would be part of a broader US aid package. It is expected to include an additional $US500 million ($1200 million) in direct financial assistance, debt rescheduling and support for international loans that could be worth billions.
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Links: War against terrorism
Timeline: Major events since the Sept 11 attacks
Howard urges calm in face of jihad call
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