(AFP) Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that detained Philippines rebel Nur Misuari had put Malaysia in a tight spot and feared his prolonged detention could sour ties with Manila.

"It's Misuari who puts Malaysia in a spot. Why can't he run away somewhere else?" Mahathir told reporters at parliament.

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

The 60-year-old Misuari was arrested on November 24 with six of his followers off an island in Sabah after fleeing from the southern Philippines when the army put down his rebellion.

Mahathir said Malaysia would have to find an alternative way to deal with the Muslim rebel leader in the event that Manila did not want him back.

Asked if Malaysia may free him, the premier said: "We hope not, people might think we are associated with terrorists ... We have to be very careful in handling this."

Mahathir said the government was still negotiating with Manila on the approriate time to deport Misuari.

"If we just send him back and release him just like that, it will be useless. We will negotiate with the Philippines to send him back."

Not ready

Jose Brillantes, Manila's ambassador to Kuala Lumpur, earlier today said the Philippines was not ready to take Misuari back and had indicated it wanted the rebel leader to remain in Malaysia for the moment.

A report in the local Sun newspaper Thursday quoted a highly-placed source as saying Misuari would be deported by the end of the week.

"I have no way of confirming these reports, but as a 'highly-placed source' myself, I would say that the Philippines is still not ready," Brillantes told AFP .

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.

Misuari faces rebellion charges back home.

A former Muslim separatist guerrilla in the mainly-Catholic Philippines, he reportedly staged the revolt after Philippine President Gloria Arroyo backed a rival faction in his Moro National Liberation Front for the post of governor of a Muslim self-rule area.

Possible threat

Misuari had held the position in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao since signing a peace agreement with the government in 1996.

Defense Minister Najib Razak has called Misuari's prolonged stay a possible threat to security, saying Sabah was being closely guarded by land, sea and air patrols against any problems from his supporters.

Mahathir has said Misuari would not be granted asylum by Malaysia, which gave him and his guerrillas sanctuary in the early 1970s.