Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has denounced Palestinian suicide bombings, saying in remarks published today that the practice was unacceptable to Islam.

Mahathir, a strong supporter of the Palestinians, acknowledged that they resorted to suicide bombing because they did not have proper weapons in their fight for an independent homeland.

"Nevertheless, it is wrong to commit suicide bombings," he was quoted as saying by the Sunday Star , adding that it was against Islam because it led to the loss of innocent lives.

"Fighting is one thing but if you go onboard a school bus and kill all the schoolchildren, I don't think it is a brave move."

He was commenting on remarks by Abdul Hadi Awang, leader of the opposition Islamic Party who said Friday that Islam permitted suicide bombing in the fight against oppression.

Acts of martyrdom

Abdul Hadi said his party supported the Palestinian militant group Hamas because innocent people were being killed, and suicide bombings were acts of martyrdom.

But he said suicide bombings in Indonesia's Bali island last year, which killed more than 200 people, could not be considered as martyrdom.

Mahathir said the root cause of the Palestinian problem was not religion but territory and unless this issue was resolved it would be difficult to persuade Hamas not to take up violence.

The 77-year-old premier will host a Organisation of Islamic Conference next month before stepping down after leading this mainly-Muslim Southeast Asian nation for 22 years. - AFP