(AFP) The government will ban an issue of Newsweek magazine showing an image of the Prophet Mohammad, deputy prime minister Abdullah Badawi said Wednesday, joining a chorus of regional protests.

Answering questions about the magazine's Feb 11 issue, he said: "Normally, if publications contain photographs said to be that of the Prophet Mohammad or such figures, the law of the country would have been violated.

"As such, we will not allow the edition to be circulated."

Neighbouring Indonesia's highest Islamic authority said Wednesday it had urged the withholding of the same issue to prevent a possible backlash by Muslims.

Apology sought

Umar Shihab, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulema (Muslim scholars), said the group also asked the publisher of Newsweek to apologise to Muslim worldwide for using the images.

"The Sunni branch of Islam as well as other Islamic schools forbids the visualisation of a prophet or God's messenger," Shihab told AFP .

"Because of that the publication of Prophet Mohammad's image can be seen as an insult to Islam."

However Shihab said he did not think Newsweek had intended to insult Islam.

Bangladesh said Friday it had confiscated all copies of the controversial issue and banned any further sale or distribution for fear the publication of the prophet's image "may hurt the religious feelings of Muslims".