Philippines Muslim rebel leader Nur Misuari, who is presently being detained in Sabah, will be sent "overseas" as soon as possible, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.

Speaking to the press after the Umno supreme council meeting, Mahathir said the government will be looking into all possibilities as well as the latest development before deciding to allow Misuari to leave Malaysia.

"We will have to do this to avoid any problems with the Phillippines," said Mahathir.

The premier however did not say as to when and where Misuari would be deported to.

Mahathir had earlier expressed concerns that the prolonged detention of Misuari here would sour ties with Manila.

"It's Misuari who puts Malaysia in a spot. Why can't he run away somewhere else?" lamented Mahathir yesterday.

"He fights there and then run to Malaysia ... it sours up our relation with our neighbour."

Sixty-year-old Misuari was arrested on Nov 24 with six of his followers off an island in Sabah after fleeing from the southern Philippines when the army put down his rebellion.

The premier had earlier said that Malaysia will have to find an alternative way to deal with the Muslim rebel leader in the event that Manila did not want him back.

The Phillippines government have been reluctant to allow Misuari to return to his native-land in Mindanao, fearing that he could still cause trouble there.

No pressure

However in an earlier development today, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo said that both governments were working on a schedule as to when Misuari can be deported.

"We are already preparing in the Philippines where to put him, how to arrest him, what charges to file. So we will be ready for Misuari at a mutually agreed upon period, which will not be long from now," AFP quoted Arroyo as saying at a news conference in Manila.

Manila has been constantly saying that Misuari will be allowed to be deported after the Malaysian government dispensed all legal proceedings, including possible court actions for illegal entry, have been completed.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi late Wednesday said Misuari's presence was an unwanted burden for the country and Malaysia would deport him as soon as Manila was ready.

It has been reported the government has also been under pressure from the Organisation of Islamic Conference to deport Misuari to a third country.

OIC and Malaysia have been responsible in brokering a peace deal between the Philippine government and Misuari's Moro National Liberation Front in 1996.

However, Abdullah rebuked the claim on Monday.

"We are not under any pressure from anyone. I have not been told by the Organisation of Islamic Conference on anything."