Вот так?
if ($set_user['fora']) {
echo '<div class="menu">';
$limit = '5'; // количество тем
$req_t = mysql_query("SELECT `id`, `text` FROM `forum` WHERE `type`='t' ORDER BY `time` DESC LIMIT $limit "); // запрос
while($res_t = mysql_fetch_array($req_t)){
$colmes = mysql_query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM `forum` WHERE `type`='m' AND `refid`='" . $res_t['id'] . "'");
$colmes1 = mysql_result($colmes, 0);
echo '<small> >> <a href="/forum/?id='.$res_t['id'].'">'.$res_t['text'].'</a> [' . $colmes1 . ']</small><br/>'; // вывод темы
}
echo '</div>';
}