Drop Hezbollah from terrorist list: academic

The head of the Federal Government's Muslim Advisory Group says Hezbollah is not a terrorist organisation and should be removed from a list of banned organisations.

Dr Ameer Ali has also accused the Australian Government of having no independent policy on the Middle East, saying it follows the United States and Israel.

He says Hezbollah should not be considered in the same league as Al Qaeda.

Dr Ali says he is going to write to Mr Howard asking for the group to be removed from a list of banned terrorist organisations.

"Hezbollah is not a terrorist organisation, it's not a organisation like Al Qaeda which is bent on creating wanton violence all over the world," he said.

"They are not doing that, it's a part of Lebanese politics, it's part of south Lebanon."

But the Prime Minister has strongly rejected Dr Ali's call.

"Rethink our proscription of it as a terrorist organisation? No chance, full stop. No chance at all," Mr Howard said.