DHAKA, Dec 10: Bangladesh`s highest court on Tuesday halted the execution of a senior leader of Jamaat-i-Islami just 90 minutes before he was to become the first person executed for war crimes committed during the country`s bloody independence fight.

Supreme Court chamber judge Syed Mahmud Hossain stopped the execution of Abdul Quader Molla, a senior leader of the Jamaat-i-Islami party described by prosecutors as `the Butcher of Mirpur`, until 10:30am Wednesday (0430 GMT), the court registrar said.

`The execution has been halted pending a hearing on Wednesday,` the registrar told AFP, without elaborating.

Defence lawyer Shishir Munir said they were seeking a lastminute review of Molla`s execution order as the country`s constitution enshrines rights for a death-row convict to have his appeal heard in the Supreme Court.

Molla has been convicted of mass murder and rape during Bangladesh`s 1971 independence war against Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh`s secular government had said it would go ahead with the execution of Molla at one minute past midnight despite a global outcry over the lack of a right to appeal.

In anticipation of the hanging, security has been tightened across the country and outside the jail in Old Dhaka where it was set to take place.

Observers worry Molla`s execution could trigger massive protests in the unrest-plagued country, which is experiencing its worst political violence since independence.

At least 224 people have died in battles between opposition protesters, police and government supporters since January this year.

Bangladesh`s deputy law minister Quamrul Islam had earlier announced the execution, adding the Jamaat leader had refused to seek a last-minute presidential clemency.

Prisons chief Main Uddin Khandaker said all preparations had been made for the execution.-AFP