Thais urge Muslims against 'Holy War'

Thais urge Muslims against 'Holy War'

BANGKOK (DPA): Thailand's Defense Ministry has warned Thai Muslims against falling victim to two websites, reportedly based in Germany, that are recruiting people to fight a "holy war" against the United States, the Bangkok Post reported on Sunday.

According to ministry sources, the websites are offering to pay recruits $20,000 a month to any Muslim prepared to help Afghanistan's ruling Taliban fight the U.S., which has threatened a military offensive against Kabul for harboring Osama bin Laden.

Bin Laden is believed to be the mastermind behind two horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon buildings on September 11 that left more than 6,000 people dead.

The websites, which were not named by the newspaper, allegedly invite Thai recruits to Karachi in Pakistan, as a launchpad for transfer to Afghanistan.

Nearly 90 per cent of the Thai population is Buddhist, but Islam is the second most popular religion, with large Muslim communities especially in the southernmost provinces, neighboring Malaysia.