Australian Prime Minister Mr John Howard on Monday turned down Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef’s request for an “honorary citizenship”, saying no such category existed for the authorities to entertain.

Haneef, who returned to India a week ago after the terrorism charge against him was dropped, told Australian media that he would like to ask Howard for an “honorary citizenship of Australia” because he was a good doctor.

“The case doesn't plead for an honorary citizenship. Moreover, I’m not sure that we have honorary Australians. Haneef  wouldn’t be the sort of person you’d make an honorary Australian,” he said.

“But I’m not aware of such an animal, such a person, such a beast. I don’t think so, I don’t think we have honorary Australians, do we?”

Haneef wanted to return to Australia to finish his medical training, despite his four weeks of detention and the cancellation of his work visa.

Meanwhile, Haneef’s lawyer Mr Peter Russo had returned from India on Sunday and said that the family of the former gold Coast registrar wanted to sue the Government over the failed terror charge against him.

He said Haneef’s family wanted compensation for the lost income and the damage done to his reputation, though his client had not asked him to pursue civil action against the Government.

“You’ve got to understand the Indians’ mentality — they want to sue,” Mr Russo said on ABC radio.