THE British National Party has launched a leaflet campaign in York to win support for a Campaign Against Islam.

The leaflets claim that Britain's main political parties are "forcing a multicultural society on us".

They have been condemned by all of the city's political leaders.

"These people are trying to turn people in the city against one another," said a resident, who asked not to be named.

Although the leaflet does not use the title Campaign Against Islam, it uses the same logos, graphics and text as literature which comes under that banner on the party's website.

It features a logo of a mosque in a "no-go" panel, and cites passages from the Koran which, the party claims, show that Muslims intend attacks against non-Muslims.

Refering to the war on terror, it claims that "the biggest danger comes not from Afghan warlords, but from Muslim extremists living in our country".

City of York Council leader Labour Councillor Rod Hills said: "This is a disgraceful and deplorable way of behaving. We are a multicultural, multifaith society today.

"My hope is that every citizen in this city will do their best to ward off this kind of material, that no-one will do anything to spread these kinds of documents."

Conservative leader John Galvin said: "If there is any legal action that can be taken against the people circulating these leaflets, it should be taken very quickly and very strongly."

And Steve Galloway, from the city's Liberal Democrats, said: "York has been relatively free from religious bigotry over the last few decades and we don't want elements from outside the city with these views given any credibility. I would ask anybody who finds one of these leaflets to tear it up."

Phil Edwards, press spokesman for the British National Party, defended the campaign, and said the party was trying to bolster its profile by stepping up its efforts across the country.

"Our leader, Nick Griffin, has singled out passages from the Koran which show the Muslim faith to be less than the peaceful one they would have us believe it is," he claimed.

He added that more leaflet campaigns were planned.

Chief Superintendent John Lacy, of York police, said he had not received any complaints , but added: "Obviously there is a line to be struck between freedom of speech, and incitement to hatred.

"I would encourage anyone who may have been upset by this material to contact the police."

Updated: 11:03 Monday, October 15, 2001