KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19: Former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad, in remarks published on Tuesday, predicted US President George Bush would win the election because Americans were "very ignorant" people and would "accept a liar".

Dr Mahathir, who retired last October after 22 years in power, told The Star in an interview that the US electorate "appears to be willing to accept a person who told a blatant lie and to elect a liar as their president.

"The American people are, by and large, very ignorant and know nothing about the rest of the world. They think that America is the world," he said.

"They will accept a liar. They will accept (British Prime Minister Tony) Blair and I am sure they will accept Bush. They have already accepted (Australian Prime Minister John) Howard who told a blatant lie."

Asked if he thought Mr Bush will win, Dr Mahathir said: "Yes, I think so."

Dr Mahathir, who was sharply critical of the invasion of Iraq and attacked Mr Bush's foreign policies while in office, over the weekend appealed to US Muslims to back Senator John Kerry because Mr Bush was the "cause of the tragedies" across the Muslim world.

"Vote Bush out of office. It is truly an ibadah (worship) that you perform," he said in an open letter dated Oct 15 and posted on the website, www.Islamicity.com

"Bush has shown that despite his protests, he is the cause of the tragedies in Afghanistan, Palestine and Iraq," Dr Mahathir said on the website.

"People, including children, women, sick and disabled people, have been and are being killed in these countries who otherwise would be alive today. Under the pretext of attacking terrorists, whole towns and villages with their populations are being destroyed by rockets and bombs."-AFP