A group of British actors has urged the world's leaders to

call a halt to a campaign against countries which harbour

terrorists.

The nine-strong group, which includes playwright Harold

Pinter and Corin Redgrave, appeal to stop the "madness"

of a new world war following last week's attacks.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, they say a war against

Afghanistan, Iraq and the world's poorest countries "will not

rescue any victims of September 11, or make the cities of

America and Europe safer".

The actors stress the war must be prevented for the sake of

all who were killed in New York and Washington and their

families, friends and loved ones.

The letter says: "Terrorism cannot be defeated by bombs,

bullets or secret intelligence. Terrorism is the language of

hatred and despair. Out of the carnage and rubble of a new

crusade will come new terrorists, even more desperate and

ruthless than before.

"In Afghanistan, four million people are homeless and

scores of thousands are starving or dying of cholera

because of sanctions, imposed by the West in their attempt

to force the Taliban government to hand over Osama bin

Laden.

"A million children in Iraq are dead or dying because of

waterborne diseases and malnutrition caused by sanctions.

"Human rights and civil liberties are being trampled on

around the world as politicians call for tolerance while

fanning the flames of intolerance with their preparations for

war."

The actors - Maggi Hambling, Lynn Farleigh, Merlin

Holland, Bryony Lavery, Jehane Markham, Kika Markham,

Roger Lloyd Pack, Harold Pinter and Corin Redgrave -

add: "We must make war, but on poverty."