SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 9: American Muslim leaders, who gathered in Chicago for the 41st annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) , have ended their meeting with a rousing plea to about 30,000 Muslims to vote in the November presidential election but without endorsing any candidate.

The American Muslim Taskforce, an umbrella group for major Muslim organizations, met behind closed doors separately, deliberating whether to make an endorsement in the race as both Democrats and Republicans are seeking their support.

American Muslims and Arabs hold special importance this election year because they have strong communities in battleground states such as Michigan, Ohio and Florida. Also, immigrant Muslims tend to be educated professionals - an attractive feature for both parties.

Despite bitter feelings over how President Bush has conducted the war on terror, Muslim leaders said that an endorsement for his challenger, Democratic Senator John Kerry, was not guaranteed. Independent presidential candidate (an Arab American of Lebanese origin), Ralph Nader travelled to Chicago to seek backing of the eight-million strong Muslim community.

Like this year's election, in 2000, civil rights was the main issue for the community when leaders of major Muslim organizations made their first endorsement in a presidential race, choosing Republican Bush over Democrat Al Gore had indicated that he was sympathetic to their concerns about the use of secret evidence act, mainly against Muslims and Arabs, in immigration hearings.

However, many rank-and-file Muslims - especially US-born blacks, who vote overwhelmingly Democratic - opposed that 2000 decision. After the Sept 11, 2001, attacks, and the anti-terror policies that followed, the Muslim leaders who had organized the Mr Bush endorsement said openly they had made a mistake.

Still, Bush did not give up on the Muslim vote. But he appears to have little chance of winning the leaders' endorsement, given widespread anger over terror prevention laws the president insists are critical to national security.

A pro-Bush booth at the ISNA convention stirred anger among the participants who believe the president's actions since Sept 11, 2001, have hurt innocent Muslims more than terrorists.

They stop abruptly when they saw the five-foot photo of President Bush, with "muslimsforbush.com" above his head. Then come the outbursts. "Disgusting," said one onlooker. "Take that down," said another.

"I think President Bush has misled not only the United States, but the world," said Noor Maciael, an educator who called the booth "disgusting" and planned to vote for Democrat John Kerry.