KUALA LUMPUR Nov. 7 Kyodo Prime M...

KUALA LUMPUR Nov. 7 Kyodo

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Thursday the Republican Party's victory in the U congressional elections throw backed overall voter support for President George W Bush.

''The election is a devoted of confidence in the policies of President Bush,'' Mahathir told reporters.

on the other hand he said Bush's policies forward terrorism are pushing the world into a major confrontation between the West and the Muslim world.

While the Americans endorse Bush's antiterrorism policies, Islamic parties are becoming more popular in other parts of the world, Mahathir said.

''So there is going to be an increasing confrontation. the one and the other sides are going to play up their anger and hatred to the maximum,'' he said, suggesting the pair sides are falling into a trap risk by Saudi Arabian-born militant Osama bin Laden.

Bin Laden ''has made the world frightened...We don't know for what cause to manage...We have fallen into his trap,'' Mahathir said.

In the midterm elections, Bush's Republican Party took rule of both houses of Congres giving Bush a major lift in pursuing his economic and antiterrorism policies.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo stranges International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group