A community leader in Bradford has warned British Muslims not to try to go to Afghanistan to fight against the United States-led coalition.

Rashid Awan, president of the Pakistan Society of West Yorkshire, which has its headquarters in Bradford, said he was alarmed to see reports of young Muslim men in Britain signing up to fight in Afghanistan on the side of the Taliban and Osama bin Laden.

Today, BBC radio reported that a Bradford man had crossed the border into Afghanistan to join Taliban forces.

Mr Awan urged Muslim leaders in the city to dissuade anyone considering joining the conflict.

"I saw an interview with a young Muslim man, who was not prepared to show his face, talking about how he had been recruited to go to Afghanistan to fight against the alliance," he said.

"He said he was fighting for Islam, and this is the conception that some young people have, which is wrong. We should believe what Tony Blair is saying to community leaders, that this is not a war against Islam.

"This should be of great concern to the community of Bradford. Community leaders should be aware this is happening an actively discourage anyone who considers it."

His sentiments were echoed by defence secretary Geoff Hoon who warned that any Britons who joined the Taliban ranks could face death in Afghanistan or legal action in Britain if they managed to return.

"I would hope that anyone who is contemplating going to Afghanistan does think very carefully about the consequences both to them and their families in terms of the grief they may suffer as well as the legal action that might follow on their return if they were to return," he told a Ministry of Defence news conference.

His comments follow reports that three British Muslims who went to join the Taliban were killed in United States air strikes on Kabul.

"In this country we should be careful we are loyal to Great Britain and our forces," he said.

Sher Azam, president of the Bradford Council for Mosques, also urged Muslims not to join the Taliban and said any anger at the bombing of Afghanistan should be expressed peacefully.