JAKARTA, August 14, 2008 (AFP) - Indonesia has rejected US pressure to stop a Lebanese Hezbollah militia television channel airing its programmes in the country, a minister said Thursday.

Information and Communications Minister Muhammad Nuh said Indonesia saw no reason to block broadcasts by the Islamic militant group which is on a US State Department list of terrorist organisations.

'We can't stop anyone here as long as they aren't violating our regulations,' he said.

'We don't want any intervention or request from any country which isn't in line with our basic principles.'

He said he had explained Indonesia's position during a recent meeting with US representatives.

Lebanon-based station Al-Manar started broadcasting in Indonesia in April after leasing a satellite transponder operated by PT Indosat. Its three-year contract will end in 2011.

Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim nation. Most of its 230 million people follow a moderate form of Islam but it is also troubled by Islamist extremists inspired by Al-Qaeda.

A spokesman for the US embassy said the United States opposed Hezbollah and 'all its constituent arms' wherever they appeared around the world.

'Al-Manar, its parent and affiliates form a recognized arm of Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organization under multiple counterterrorism authorities,' he said.

'The US government has expressed, and will continue to express, its concerns about Hezbollah and Al-Manar television worldwide, and remains firmly opposed to their exploitation of the media to promote terrorist acts, including broadcasts designed to incite imminent violence and likely to produce violence.'

He said the US embassy had 'shared its concerns' about the broadcaster with the Indonesian government.