President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said she wanted the outgoing governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao, Nur Misuari, to be included in the U.S. anti-terrorist order of battle.

"Right now, he's charged with rebellion. He's a terrorist since the Abu Sayyaf is included in the order of battle of the U.S. on terrorists. We will be officially notifying the U.S. that we have information that Misuari has links (with them)," said Arroyo in a press conference attended by United States Defence Assistant Secretary Peter Brooks and U.S. Charge d'Affaires Peter Fitts.

"Remember what President George Bush said, if you harbour a terrorist, if you deal with them, if you work with them, you're also a terrorist. And by that token, he's a terrorist," said Arroyo.

Misuari poses a threat also to American interests because he has tactical alliance with the Abu Sayyaf, which in June beheaded Guillermo Sobero, an American hostage abducted from a resort in Palawan in May, said Arroyo.

"He should be the one held liable because the attack in Jolo (of the Army headquarters on November 19) was the start of his offensive," said Arroyo.

The government also blamed Misuari for the attack of the Air Force and the brief hostage-taking of 118 villagers in Zamboanga City on November 28.

Meanwhile, Arroyo denied receiving an open letter from Misuari that criticised her administration's lack of response to an Organisation of Islamic Conference request to postpone the autonomous region elections in Mindanao from November 26 to 2003.

She was also accused of not following to the letter the government-Moro National Liberation Front peace settlement, brokered by the OIC in 1996.

In a five-page press statement released from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Misuari said the war in Mindanao will continue for as long as the government does not uphold the peace accord signed with the MNLF.

Misuari was the MNLF chairman during government-MNLF talks from 1992 to 1996. He was ousted as MNLF chairman by a council led by Parouk Hussin in April this year. Hussin recently won in the autonomous region elections, which Misuari contested.

"I don't want to dignify any letter from him. I haven't received it. He's charged with rebellion, he's a terrorist," said Arroyo.