The US has launched a month-long advertising campaign in the Pakistani media announcing financial rewards for information leading to the nabbing of key terrorists believed to be in the region.

The US State Department's Rewards for Justice Programme, as it is called, has run advertisements in Pakistani newspapers and aired them on Pakistani radio and television stations in both the Urdu and Pashto languages.

The initial print advertisement published in a leading Pakistani Urdu daily featured photos and reward amounts for most wanted terrorists who may be in the region, such as Osama bin Laden, Midhat Mursi al-Sayid 'Umar, and Mullah Omar.

The campaign will last for one month, the department said in a release Monday.

Considered "one of the most useful tools" in apprehending known enemies of the US, the rewards programme was begun in 1984 and has netted some big names over the years.

After 9/11, Washington offered a $25 million for information leading to the capture of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, as well as his right-hand-man Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Those two have been elusive targets with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf adding to the controversy by claiming a few months ago that he did not think bin Laden was in Pakistan, and US commanders and other terrorism specialists contending he is in the northwest frontier regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The State Department has also noted that rewards may be paid for information leading to the arrest or conviction of terrorists "attempting, committing, conspiring to commit, or aiding and abetting in the commission of terrorist acts" against Americans and American property worldwide.

Since its inception, the Rewards for Justice Programme has paid more than $57 million to 43 people who have provided credible information that has resulted in the capture or death of terrorists or prevented
acts of international terrorism, the State Department said.

People with information regarding the individuals named in the advertisement are urged to contact the US embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, at 51-2080-0000.