Religious scholars in Pakistan have awarded their highest honour to Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in reaction to Britain's knighthood for Salman Rushdie.

The tit-for-tat recognition was given by a private body that claims to represent 2,000 religious scholars in Pakistan.

It said it was bestowing the title 'Sword of Allah' on bin Laden, in response to Britain giving a knighthood to the author of The Satanic Verses.

Meanwhile, Britain has expressed "deep concern" at remarks by the Pakistani Religious Affairs Minister who said the award given to Rushdie justified suicide attacks.