KUALA LUMPUR, May 9: Malaysia's outspoken former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad urged oil-producing Arab countries in comments published Sunday to use oil as a weapon to fight US oppression.

In an interview with the Malay-language daily, Mingguan Malaysia, Mahathir also said the countries should withdraw their huge financial reserves deposited in the United States so as to bankrupt the country.

"Arab countries have oil and it can be used as a weapon. Besides that they keep a large amount of money in the United States. If we take out the money, the US can go bankrupt," he was quoted as saying.

Mahathir also criticised suicide bombings as means of struggle, saying they did not produce any results. "If they (suicide bombers) kill soldiers, it is alright, but the problem is those who are killed are the public," he said. Malaysia currently chairs the 57-member OIC and the Non-Aligned Movement. -AFP