Malaysia today condemned the killing of Lebanon's former prime minister Rafiq Hariri in a Beirut bomb blast as an "act of terror".

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is chairman of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference, described Hariri's death as a great loss not only to Lebanon but also to the Arab world.

"The government of Malaysia strongly condemns such acts of terror," Abdullah said in a message of condolences to his Lebanese counterpart, Omar Abdel Hamid Karame.

"During his premiership, Lebanon has seen tremendous progress and prosperity," Abdullah was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

Hariri, a five-time prime minister and billionaire tycoon, was killed in a massive bomb blast in Beirut Monday that stoked fears of fresh sectarian strife 15 years after the end of the civil war.

Another nine people were killed and about 100 wounded when the explosion ripped through Hariri's motorcade, leaving a trail of carnage and devastation in a busy seafront area.