Controversial Australian Muslim cleric hospitalised

CANBERRA, Oct 30 (Reuters) Australia's top Muslim cleric, under a cloud after comparing unveiled women to ''uncovered meat'', was hospitalised today as the country's prime minister warned his comments may lead to vilification of other Muslims.

Sheikh Taj El-Din Hamid Hilaly, the mufti of Australia's biggest mosque in Sydney, angered community and political leaders and divided Australia's 280,000 Muslims over the comments, made in a Ramadan sermon a month ago but only reported last week.

In a separate speech reported today, Hilaly praised jihadist militants fighting U S-led coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, but condemned terrorist attacks against civilians in New York, London and Madrid.

Lebanese-Australian Muslim leaders sought to meet Hilaly today to discuss resignation from his self-appointed position, but the cleric was hospitalised before the meeting began.

Lebanese Muslim Association spookesman Tom Zreika refused to confirm reports Hilaly fainted inside the Lakemba Mosque from which he has been temporarily suspended, but said he was recovering.

Prime Minister John Howard urged Muslim leaders to act quickly and drop Hilaly, who once described Howard, U S President George W.

Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair as the real axis of evil.

''The real worry I have, and it's a very deep worry, is that this will permanently damage the attitudes, or the perceptions, of Muslims within the broader Australian community, and I do not want that to happen,'' Howard told local radio.

Hilaly has apologised for his comments, which he said had been misinterpreted and taken out of context.

But the furore has again opened a rift between the conservative government and sections of the Muslim community which Howard has accused of failing to adopt Australian values.

Howard said if Hilaly remained in place, people with ill-will towards Muslims would assume ordinary people agreed with his extremist views. ''Time is running out to stop that impression solidifying,'' he said.

One government lawmaker said the Egyptian-born Hilaly should be deported, despite his adoption of Australian citizenship.

''My first reaction is to hell with him,'' conservative politician Warren Entsch said.

Opposition lawmakers demanded the government launch an investigation into whether Hilaly had broken anti-terrorism laws by glorifying martyrdom in a speech two years ago in which he called the September 11 attacks the work of God.

Jamal Rifi, a close friend of Hilaly and founder of Muslim Doctors Against Violence, said he had written an open letter to the cleric and was confident he would eventually step down.

''The right decision is for him to step down. For as long as he is spiritual leader, we will be in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons,'' Rifi told local television.

Reuters SAM DB1339