Oz opposition leader Tony Abbott terms burqa as 'confronting attire'

Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott has said that the Muslim attire 'burqa' is very confronting and should not be very widespread on the streets of the nation.

Abbott said that although burqa was not the sort of attire that he would like to see much on the streets of Australia, everyone was entitled to make their choice in what they wear as it's a free country, the Courier Mail reports.

The statement came in response to earlier comments made by McMahon Liberal candidate Ray King that burqas are a "sign of oppression" and can be linked to criminality.

Abbott clarified King's comments were more about identifying people in such attire to be in policing situations.