Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was given a red-carpet welcome today as he began a visit aimed at seeking Malaysia's backing for his country's controversial nuclear programme.

Ahmadinejad, who arrived here late yesterday, inspected a guard of honour at the capital's parliament square, which was locked down with tight security including helicopters hovering overhead.

Later in the day he is to brief Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Iran's nuclear capabilities, and hold a joint press conference with the Malaysian leader.

Iran maintains its nuclear programme is solely aimed at generating electricity, but is facing demands from the United Nations nuclear watchdog to give assurances it is not pursuing a covert nuclear weapons programme.

Ahmadinejad's visit is part of an Iranian campaign to drum up support ahead of a meeting next Monday of the International Atomic Energy Agency which could decide to take the Iran nuclear case to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

As the current head of the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the world's biggest grouping of Muslim nations, Malaysia is expected to try to encourage a negotiated solution to the stand-off.

Malaysia's Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said it was vital to avoid another conflict like the US-led invasion of Iraq.

"We still hold to the position that nuclear technology for nuclear energy, to be used pursuant to (the nuclear non-proliferation treaty) for peaceful purposes, it should be allowed," he told reporters at parliament square.

"But in the case of Iran's situation, there is an impasse at present between the European Union and the Americans but we hope ultimately through dialogue and negotiation a solution would be found peacefully."

"We do not think we can afford another area of conflict - a new theatre of conflict using military means."

Take Teheran's word

Malaysia is also the current head of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), a bloc of more than 100 mainly developing nations which supports the right to nuclear technology for its members.

Asked whether Malaysia, as NAM chairman, was confident Iran had no plans to use its nuclear technology for military purposes, Syed Hamid said the grouping had to take Teheran's word on the issue.

"Then we put safety measures to ensure that it complies," he added.

Ahmadinejad's visit wraps up tomorrow after he delivers a lecture on "International Issues and Role of the Muslim World".

Political observers say the Iranian leader is using the trip to Malaysia - a majority Muslim nation but not an Islamic state - to show himself as willing to engage over the nuclear issue.

The visit is his first to Malaysia since taking office in August 2005 after scoring a shock election win in the face of more moderate forces.