Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak believes the US-led war on Iraq will produce '100 new bin Ladens.'

'When it is over, if it is over, this war will have horrible consequences,' Mubarak told Egyptian soldiers on Monday.

'Instead of having one bin Laden, we will have 100 bin Ladens,' he said in a speech broadcast live on Egyptian television.

On a day when Egypt released 64 anti-war protestors from custody, Mubarak said Egypt would continue to allow US and British warships to use the Suez Canal.

'Crossing of ships of the Suez Canal is a right for all countries and is an international commitment that cannot be trampled with,' Mubarak said, in response to calls within Egypt that his government bar coalition warships from using the Suez Canal.