Former Malaysian premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that democracy had failed in Iraq and that the insurgency-wracked country would fare better under a "benevolent dictator".

"Today we see in Iraq, where democracy is being practiced, every day people are being killed," he said at a peace conference, adding that tensions between Iraqi Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds were jeopardising the country's stability.

"Since they are free to fight each other and to kill each other, that's what they are doing. And as a result of course, Iraq is not the most stable country," he said.

"It is very unlikely to be able to develop. And that situation will continue because somebody wanted to prove that democracy works for everyone."

Need a strong hand

Iraq would fare better under a "benevolent dictator", at least in the short term, he said.

"You have to have a strong hand, to stop people from becoming violent," he said. "If we allow people to do what they like, this will result in chaos. People will be fighting each other".

Mahathir stepped down as Malaysian premier two years ago, after two decades on the political stage where his outspoken rhetoric became legendary.

"I think democracy is good, but you have to learn how to make democracy work. There are limitations," he told reporters later.

"You suddenly ask the Iraqis to become democratic. They don't understand what democracy is all about. The result is worse than when it was a dictatorship."