Oz not to apologise to Haneef: Aus PM

MELBOURNE: Under intense attack for bungling the Haneef case, Prime Minister John Howard today said Australia would not apologise to the Indian doctor jailed for terror charges before being released and rejected strident demands for a judicial probe.

Howard also dismissed Muhammed Haneef's assertion he was victimised and claimed that Australia's international reputation has not been harmed by this 'mis-start' to its new anti-terrorism laws.

"Australia will not be apologising to Dr Haneef," Howard told reporters in Sydney He said "mistakes happened from time to time and when dealing with terrorism, it was better to be safe than sorry." Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews also said he would not be apologising to Haneef.

"Dr Haneef was not victimised," Howard said defending Australia's handling of the case before the charges were dropped last Friday for lack of evidence.

The Aussie premier's remarks came hours after Haneef's lawyer Peter Russo said in Bangalore the Australian government owed Haneef an apology and the Indian doctor asserting that he was traumatised and victimised by Australian authorities and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Howard's rejection of a judicial inquiry on the ground that the case demonstrated the country's legal system worked followed demands by Australian Opposition leader Kevin Rudd and Queensland premier Peter Beattie.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said in Sydney it was quite common for suspects to be investigated by police and later released without charge.

"What do you expect them (police and prosecutors) to do -- fall on the ground and grovel? Eat dirt? I mean, get real," the unusually combative minister told reporters.