Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today denounced conservative Baptist minister, Reverend Jerry Falwell who called the Prophet Muhammad "a terrorist."

"They don't understand anything, they don't understand Islam," the prime minister was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

Mahathir, 76, said the priest had no right to make such a statement.

Asked if such a statement from a Reverend was an indication that the Christian community was ignorant of Islam, the premier said only an ignorant person would make such a remark.

Not accusing all Christians

"I'm not going to accuse all Christians, only one person made such a statement," he said.

Mahathir urged Muslims not to take the matter too seriously.

Muslims make up just 60 percent of Malaysia's 23 million people, Christians make up nine percent, Buddhists 19 percent and Hindus six percent.

Falwell said this in an interview to be broadcast Sunday on the CBS television network's "60 Minutes" programme.

Falwell, a leader of the US Evangelical Christian right, is no stranger to controversy or inflammatory remarks. — AFP