The government today expressed sorrow over the beheading of a South Korean hostage by Islamic militants in Iraq and criticised those who targeted harmless civilians to advance their goals.

"We are sad and shocked that this has happened," Zainal Abidin Zin, deputy defence minister told AFP after South Korean translator Kim Sun-Il was beheaded by a group linked to the al-Qaeda terror network.

Seoul had earlier refused the militants' demands to cancel a planned troop deployment to Iraq.

Zainal said Malaysia condemns those who blackmail governments by abducting and killing civilians, adding that "we hope the security situation in Iraq will improve."

Islamic militants, linked to alleged al-Qaeda operative Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, beheaded Kim on Tuesday after demanding that Seoul reconsider its decision to deploy troops to Iraq.

Kim, 33, was due to return home next month to celebrate his father's 70th birthday, according to his family. He went to Iraq in June last year.

Malaysia is the current chairman of the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference and is opposed to US-led war in Iraq. - AFP