Prime Minister Tony Abbott has applauded Lateline host Emma Alberici over a fiery TV exchange with a spokesman for the radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Wassim Doureihi appeared on Wednesday night's episode after Mr Abbott earlier in the day said the group "campaigns against Australian values and interests".

After a relatively subdued start to the ABC interview, Mr Doureihi repeatedly dodged questions about whether Hizb ut-Tahrir supported the "murderous campaign' waged by Islamic State extremists. Hizb ut-Tahrir has previously dubbed Islamic State as an "armed group which only represents itself".