Vaudine England, Jakarta – Small groups of Indonesians are signing up to join a holy war against the United States. A minority is even claiming links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda organisation.

This network of loosely affiliated cells of jihadis (holy warriors) around the world has played a direct role in fomenting religious war in Indonesia's Maluku islands said academic al-Chaidar, a member of Darul Islam, an underground Islamic organisation.

The links with al-Qaeda were forged when 30,000 Indonesians fought alongside the Mujahedeen from 1983 to 1989 against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, he said.

"They maintain contact with the international Mujahedeen network, including Osama bin Laden's group. Wherever a jihad is in force, this network provides money and weapons and all tools needed for the jihad, and they mobilise fighters to go to the jihad area," Mr Chaidar said. "This is exactly what is happening in the Malukus. Osama bin Laden is one of those who have sent money and weapons to jihad fighters in the Malukus."

Many of those jihad fighters are members of the militant Laskar Jihad group, whose commander Jaffar Umar Thalib is a former Mujahedeen fighter. But in an unusual statement, the Laskar Jihad leadership this week firmly denied any bin Laden links. "Laskar Jihad does not have ties with al-Qaeda or any other organisations that are associated with Osama bin Laden or form part of his network. Laskar Jihad distances itself from Osama bin Laden and his followers," the statement said. Mr Chaidar was not put out by the denial and was yesterday quoted as saying that the bonds throughout the Islamic brotherhood were "extremely strong".

Indonesia is apparently unable or unwilling to halt jihad talk despite President Megawati Sukarnoputri's promise to US President George W. Bush to give him full support in any war against terrorism. Mainstream commentators are angry. The Jakarta Post newspaper suggested the police were cowards for failing to go after militant groups who have threatened US citizens and who conducted a raid on hotels in Solo, Central Java, last weekend.

One group registering youths for a jihad if the US launches an attack is the Indonesian Islamic Youth Movement. Members say they have nothing to do with bin Laden, but that some youths have already gone to Afghanistan out of "Muslim solidarity". More than 200 have signed up so far.