RELIGIOUS leaders in Bolton have dismissed reports that extremist Muslims in the town are preparing to fight for the Taliban in its war against the US and Britain.

A spokesman for an Islamic group based in Pakistan has claimed that a small number of Bolton men are preparing to fly to the Middle East over the next few months.

The claims have been made by former Bury College student Hassan Butt on behalf of the Islamic group Al-Muhajiroun.

But local religious leaders for the Muslim community have strongly condemned the claim, saying Al-Muhajiroun has "scant" support in the town. Faruq Mangera, general secretary for the Bolton Council of Mosques, said: "These people are of a very small minority. There is no evidence to suggest anybody in Bolton is willing to go to war and I certainly have not heard of a single case."

The claim of support in Bolton for his organisation was made by Mr Butt in an interview with the BEN from his new home in Lahore, Pakistan.

The 21-year-old has been in Pakistan for six months, having moved there from Prestwich. He has since been actively trying to attract new recruits to overthrow Pakistan's government and help the Afghan regime.

"There are people in Bolton who will join other British Muslims in Pakistan and Afghanistan," he claimed.

"They come from all walks of life, all spheres of life, and they will not be afraid to fight face-to-face."

People from Rochdale, Oldham, Manchester and Bradford were also among those waiting to leave Britain and fight, he claimed.

Last week, Tory MP Ann Widdecombe said any British citizen who fights against British troops should be tried for treason.

It was an idea ridiculed by Mr Butt who said: "Muslims do not acknowledge man-made laws, only those which come from the Almighty.

"All talk of treason is a clever ploy by the British Government to scare Muslims but it will not work."

Such talk was condemned by Mr Mangera who said: "Muslims are law-abiding people. Nobody would endorse the extreme views held by Al-Muhajiroun.

"Last Saturday, a spokesman for that group claimed thousands would come out to support them during a rally in Blackburn. Only a handful turned up.

"These views are not, I repeat, not those of 99 per cent of Muslims."

Mr Butt is now a leading figure in Al-Muhajiroun. The activities of the group are being monitored by the British and American governments.

Mr Butt attended Prestwich High School but left at the age of 14 and went to Abraham Moss High School, Manchester, where he passed nine GCSEs, before taking A-levels in sociology, English language and psychology at Bury College. He studied law and politics at the University of Wolverhampton.

Mr Butt said he considers the Prestwich and Manchester areas to be more a home to him than Pakistan.

But he felt he could never return to Britain because he did not agree with the way of life.

He said: "I cannot go back but that is my choice. I have friends and family in Prestwich and it still feels like home. My family will come to Pakistan to see me. They fully support me."

Mr Butt said he has been devoted to Islam since he was 16.

He said: "I deplore attacks on innocent people whether it is the World Trade Centre or in Afghanistan or Iraq or anywhere.

"We are at war with the armies and governments of Britain and America. There is no anger against the innocent British and American people."

Mr Butt said he wanted to see the establishment of a world Islamic government and added that there is a section of British Muslims who are keen to help him achieve that aim.