Renegade Philippines leader Nur Misuari has applied for a visa to the United States where he will attend a lecture by the Nation of Islam in 41 universities across America.

Misuari was invited by black Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan to speak in the lecture series which would start soon in Los Angeles, said lawyer Elly Pamatong in a letter asking the Malaysian authorities to allow Misuari to leave his prison cell in Kuala Lumpur to apply for a U.S. visa.

Pamatong asked Norian Mai, Inspector General of the Malaysian police, to grant him custody of Misuari on behalf of his family. He added that this would allow Misuari's family to accompany him when he applies for a U.S. visa.

Pamatong did not specify if he referred to the second wife of Misuari, who recently visited Malaysia, or the third who is currently in Kuala Lumpur.

"He cannot be a terrorist. In fact, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), his leadership, has been fighting the (hostage-taking) Abu Sayyaf Group for a long time now, so you cannot consider him a terrorist," Pamatong said when asked about the risk of Misuari being denied a U.S. visa.

"We are in the process of applying for a U.S. trip," Pamatong explained when asked if he has decided to delay the procedure.

Pamatong is a U.S.-based Muslim lawyer who has represented Misuari since the latter's escape from the southern Philippines last November 24.

Pamatong also told a news conference in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur: "The Philippines, according to the International Monetary Fund, is the fourth most corrupt country in the world including its judiciary."

"We do not expect an impartial trial in the Philippines. We would like him to be tried in a third country and if a third country determines that he's in fact a terrorist, then he should be sent back to the Philippines." Experts said if the U.S. government grants Misuari a visa, he would eventually seek political asylum from the U.S. government.

But Philippines presidential spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao noted: "It's a far-fetched possibility that he (Misuari) would be granted asylum. Of course, the U.S. will decide whether to give him a visa or not, but one good thing is that the Malaysian government gave its assurance that it will not hand over Nur Misuari to a third party," Tiglao said.

Misuari would be returned to the Philippines "within the month", revealed Tiglao, who added that Misuari's detention cell has been prepared. Tiglao did not disclose its exact location for security reasons.

His second wife Roida T.Misuari, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, dismissed what she called Manila's "black propaganda" that he was a terrorist and said he was merely acting in self-defence.

"He is not and can never be a terrorist... it was purely in self-defence," she told the news conference with Pamatong. "According to our sources, the fighting was triggered when the Philippines government troops disarmed some of the regular integrees in their barracks ... Misuari did not give the order to attack."

Misuari, former governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), was blamed for the renewed armed struggle of the MNLF forces loyal to him, which attacked the army headquarters, resulting in the death of 113 people in Jolo, Sulu, last November 19.

He was also accused of masterminding the attack on the Air Force headquarters and the hostage taking of 118 villagers in Zamboanga City on November 27. President Gloria Arroyo ousted him as ARMM governor on November 19. He and six other MNLF members were captured for illegal entry in Sabah last November 24.

As MNLF chairman, he signed the pro-autonomy peace settlement with the government in 1996. He was ousted as MNLF chairman by Parouk Hussin, who recently won in the November 26 ARMM polls.