A CALL has gone out across East Lancashire to help millions of starving refugees of war-ravaged Afghanistan.

The Lancashire Council of Mosques has launched its own emergency appea l as the bitter Afghan winter -- when temperatures can drop to minus 25C -- sets in.

Chairman and Blackburn businessman Ibrahim Masters said: "The people of Afghanistan are helpless, hungry, thirsty and on the brink of extinction.

"With more than seven million people made homeless and displaced as refugees living in camps under squalid conditions and without basic amenities, help is needed now."

Afghanistan was facing a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, which needed a concerted relief effort, he added.

All mosques in East Lancashire have been sent details of the relief fund appeal.

Donations can be made to the Lancashire Council of Mosques office at Bangor Street Community Centre in Norwich Street, Blackburn, or to Lloyds TSB, Church Street, Blackburn, account number 1969802, sort code 30-90-87.

Cheques should be made payable to the Lancashire Council of Mosques Relief Fund.

Recently, several hundred anti-war marchers, including many Muslims, gathered in Blackburn town centre to protest and listen to pro-peace speeches.

And a fortnight ago a small group of Muslims staged a pro-Taliban march in the town. Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw afterwards described it as 'sick'.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, Taliban fighters continued to retreat today as news reached the West that 600 fighters had been dead in the beseiged northern city of Kunduz.