BANGKOK (AP)--A Thai lawmaker resigned Tuesday to douse widespread anger he caused by suggesting that Islamic countries guilty of harboring terrorists should be bombed with "pork fat bombs."

Consumption of pork is prohibited by Islam, and considered a sin.

Tinawat Marukpitak, a lawmaker from the ruling Thai Rak Thai party, was grilled for three hours by his party colleagues who blasted him for making insensitive remarks and humiliating the nation, party spokesman Suranand Vejjajiva told reporters.

"I didn't think what I did would turn out to be a big problem. My comments were personal, not of Thai Rak Thai," Tinawat told reporters after announcing his resignation from Parliament.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra welcomed Tinawat's decision. Tinawat will remain party member.

Tinawat triggered a massive uproar Monday by writing an open letter to U.S. President George W. Bush, in which he said Thailand was horrified by the terrorist attacks on the U.S. last Tuesday.

He wrote that the best way to strike back at Islamic countries who harbor the terrorists would be "to bomb them with pork fat bombs that are launched on cruise missiles."

On Tuesday, Tinawat said he didn't intend to humiliate Muslims. "I just want to reduce the boiling temperature of the world situation," he said.