SYDNEY, Austraila: Head of the Supreme Islamic Shia Council of Australia Kamal Mousselmani has dismissed claims his community received funds from Iran to spread the ideology of religious hardliners in Tehran.

He said the Shia community in Australia took its religious orders and advice from Iraq's supreme Islamic leader (Al-Marjay Al- A’ala), Grand Ayatullah Sayyed Ali Husaini As-Sistani.

Mousselmani attacked John Howard for backing Israel against Arabs and openly declared his allegiance to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

"They (the Australian Government) are encouraging terrorism," the Lebanese-born cleric told The Weekend Australian in an interview conducted in Arabic.

"Australia is encouraging Israel to kill our people daily. Write that down, we are not afraid of anyone."

"If Australia supports Israel, they are defending terrorism. Because we believe terrorists come from Israel -- not from our people -- I support Hezbollah."

"We are against the suicide bombings going on around the world," he said.

"And Hezbollah is against it.