The influential Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) has asked the Philippines to drop the label "terrorist" when describing Moro leader Nur Misuari.

A senior diplomat from the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday: "The OIC wants to tone down Misuari's description as a terrorist. Even the United States does not accept our actions in labelling Misuari a terrorist."

This sentiment was relayed to Filipino diplomatic officials by Foreign Ministers Nur Hassan Wirajuda of Indonesia and Syed Hamid Albar of Malaysia during their visit to Manila last week.

The diplomatic officials said that the OIC also urged Manila to treat Misuari 'humanely' once he is turned over by the Malaysian government, possibly next month. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier said Misuari would be tried for alleged crimes when he returns.

On November 19, Misuari led supporters in his native southern Sulu in an attempt to start an uprising by attacking the main military camp and detachments.

The attack left hundreds killed, mostly Misuari supporters and civilians, and forced Misuari, the former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, to flee to Malaysia where he was arrested for violating that country's immigration laws.

Misuari was governor until he led the failed revolt in Sulu. Following this he was declared to have violated the country's laws against rebellion and his passport promptly cancelled.

Indonesia and Malaysia are influential members of the OIC Committee of Eight that mediated in the peace talks between the Philippines government and the MNLF in 1996.

The two foreign ministers reportedly told Philippines officials that Manila should not further antagonise the former governor by branding him a terrorist. This label, they explained, would generate sympathy among other Muslim countries.

"The high respect for Misuari has been dissipated by his own action on November 19 in Sulu. The ministers say we should let the shift of the OIC assessment to continue. But the terrorist image does not enhance new MNLF representatives as it makes Misuari an underdog. If you rub it in, it won't generate sympathy," an official said.

Under Misuari's leadership the MNLF achieved "observer status" in the OIC and took part without voting rights on the organisation's meetings.

Misuari, however, was ousted from the MNLF in April and the struggle now centres on whether the OIC still recognises the Moro leader or the former rebel group which he once represents.

The Philippines was earlier expecting Kuala Lumpur to try Misuari for violating the country's security laws as it tried to build a case against him, linking him with the Abu Sayyaf, a kidnap for ransom group.