Britain's only Asian bishop waded into the row over veils today, claiming Muslim women should not wear the garment in public.

The Bishop of Rochester, the Right Reverend Michael Nazir-Ali, also argued that legislation should be introduced to give officials the power to remove the veil.

His outspoken comments came just a day after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, claimed the Government had displayed "short-sightedness" and "ignorance" over its policies on Iraq.

Pakistan-born Bishop Nazir-Ali said the Muslim community needed to make more effort to integrate in British society.

"It is fine if they want to wear the veil in private," he told the Sunday Telegraph.

"But there are occasions in public life when it is inappropriate for them to wear it." [Link]