Hard-line Muslims in Pakistan are demonstrating against plans by their government to tell Afghanistan to hand over Osama bin Laden.

Demonstrators have burned US flags and shouted slogans in support of bin Laden and the Taliban.

Protesters also warned the Pakistani government they would fight on the side of Afghanistan's Islamic militia.

"If Afghanistan is attacked we will take part in the fight against America," shouted militant Muslim leader, Abdul Ahad, to an estimated 1,000 demonstrators in northwest Pakistan, near the Afghan border.

In the capital of Islamabad, demonstrators chanted anti-American slogans.

Newspapers in Pakistan received an electronic mail from a man purporting to be bin Laden. The email issued an order to kill Americans and "their allies, civilian and military," calling it a duty of every Muslim.

There was no way to prove that the electronic mail came from the terrorist, although the Taliban deny he has access to any communications.

Meanwhile President General Pervez Musharraf met with politicians and Islamic clerics to get their support for Islamabad's promise to give "full support" to the United States to retaliate for the attacks.

Gen Musharraf sought to assure Islamic clerics, said the state-run news agency, Associated Press of Pakistan.

"Every decision of the government is directed toward the objective of unity, integrity and welfare of the nation," he said. "Hence it is imperative that all should join hands to consolidate the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan."