Australian Prime Minister John Howard has told Queensland Premier Peter Beattie to lay off the Australian Federal Police (AFP) during its investigation of Mohammed Haneef, the Indian doctor allegedly linked to the June 29 and 30 foiled UK bomb attacks.

Howard, who is presently on a three-day tour of Western Australia, described Beattie's criticism of the AFP as outrageous, and added that the police were performing a very difficult and delicate task for which they should receive complete support, rather than denigration.

Beattie had earlier described the AFP as 'the Keystone Cops' and their investigation as 'almost farcical', reports the Australian Age.

He also called for a Senate inquiry into the matter.

'It doesn't help them in their very difficult task and they've got the task in the front line in the fight against terrorism. I think Mr Beattie should lay off the Australian Federal Police. He's trying to score a political point and he knows it,' Howard told reporters in Perth, the state capital.

The AFP has charged Haneefwith providing support to a terrorist organisation by giving his mobile phone SIM card to his cousin Sabeel Ahmed - one of the men charged over the failed Glasgow Airport car bomb attack - when he left the UK last year.