FORMER South African president Nelson Mandela and another prominent South African appear set for a clash with the United States government despite supporting the superpower's military campaign on terrorism.

Speaking before a crowd of at least 10 000 near Washington D.C. last week, Mandela sharply rebuked President George W Bush's stance on Palestine and scolded the US on its unilateral policies while warning that the growing gap between the rich and the poor "allow fertile ground" for discontent, extremism and terrorism.

The previous Friday, Judge Richard Goldstone, who headed the international criminal tribunals for Rwanda and Yugoslavia, called for the establishment of international court to try suspected terrorists around the world.

Having already shown support for the US and British action to hunt suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden and his operatives in Afghanistan, Mandela's comment came shortly after Bush issued a decree that allows him to bypass the American justice system and have suspected terrorists judged in US military tribunals.

The US has previously rejected the establishment of an international court.

The larger-than-life figure of Mandela walking with apparent difficulty into a campus basketball stadium betrayed the powerful statement that was to follow.

In his address, the yearly Anwar al Sadat Lecture for Peace, at the University of Maryland, Mandela started by condemning the Sept 11 terror attacks as "cold-blooded efficiency" that "shook preconceptions about peace and security in the world".

Initially sounding hoarse, his voice quickly gave way to the powerful one to which the world is now accustomed. He said people have to accept "certain hard facts" about civilian casualties in Afghanistan.

"The tragedy of war - and therefore one of the reasons why we should redouble our collective efforts to create a world in which war shall have no place - is that inevitably innocent civilians and bystanders suffer and die."

He "wished" for a speedy end to the war, but warned "we shall not be as arrogant to dictate that one particular form of democracy ... provides the answer to all situations".

Without mentioning any country by name, Mandela said states should go through the United Nations to carry out objectives aimed at fostering peace across the world.

"We condemn countries, no matter who they are, that avoid the UN and take action and violate the independence of other countries. Because [by doing] that, you are creating chaos in international politics," he said to applause.

The Bush administration's announcement last week on trying suspected terrorists in military courts may be seen as unilateral.

The tribunals will not be reviewed and only non-US citizens will be tried in these courts, which have the power to impose the death penalty.

US newspapers quoted Bush administration officials as saying the military courts will act swiftly.

But civil organisations have condemned as inadequate the explanation given and say the government was "totally unwilling to abide by the checks and balances" central to US democracy.

Judge Goldstone argued at a conference 10 days ago that an international court may be the only option to bring people to justice if requests for extradition of suspected terrorists to the US become difficult to carry out.

The decision to put suspects before military courts followed another move last week by which government will eavesdrop on conversations between lawyers and their clients who are suspected of being involved in terrorist activities.

Mandela received an honorary doctorate for public service and citizenship to the State of Maryland.