Jack McConnell launched a fierce attack on the SNP

The SNP said next month's aid visit should be suspended until the "cloud of corruption" has been lifted from President Bingu wa Mutharika.

The first minister said the call was the "worst political stunt" since the creation of the Scottish Parliament.

He accused the SNP of "playing politics" with people's lives.

President Mutharika has been facing impeachment and has denied allegations of misusing public funds.

He is due to join Mr McConnell at an international conference on tackling Malawi's poverty in November. The first minister launched an aid appeal for the country as part of Scotland's effort to fight against world poverty.

SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said the visit should be postponed but Mr McConnell said efforts to improve Malawi's economy were vital.

Jack McConnell should delay this visit until such times as the president doesn't have the cloud of corruption hanging over him Nicola Sturgeon SNP deputy leader

Ms Sturgeon questioned whether "wining and dining" the president would send out the right message to people in Africa and other parts of the world who were fighting corruption.

She said this was happening "at the very time when (President Mutharika's) country was on the verge of famine".

However, Mr McConnell responded angrily when addressing reporters outside his official residence at Bute House in Edinburgh.

He said: "This is the worst, possibly the most dangerous political stunt that I have experienced since the creation of the Scottish Parliament.

"There are churches, rotary clubs and school groups from all over Scotland showing the best of Scottish values and the best of our country, working with the people of Malawi to make a real difference.

Threat of famine

"This is the very best of Scotland and the nationalists should check their facts, they should stop playing politics with the lives of people in Malawi.

"And they should recognise that this conference, an all-party conference, whose patron is the Princess Royal, is designed to help ensure that we have better democratic government in Malawi, better financial and legal systems and a new hope for the people of Malawi."

Four million people in Malawi are facing starvation but the threat of famine has not united politicians, with accusations that public funds have been used to support the ruling political party.

The SNP is playing a very dangerous political game which is solely designed to generate headlines and create controversy Ted Brocklebank Conservative MSP

The president's rivals allege he has broken Malawi's constitution by sacking government officials and using public funds to support his party. Mr Mutharika denies any wrongdoing.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Perhaps discretion at this stage is the better part of valour and Jack McConnell should delay this visit until such times as the president doesn't have the cloud of corruption hanging over him."

Mr Mutharika's information minister, Patricia Kaliati, said he would not cancel his Scottish visit.

"After all, we are going to benefit from it," she said.

Conservative MSP Ted Brocklebank, who visited Malawi with the SNP's Margaret Ewing and Michael Matheson, said the country's problems would not be solved by isolating its government.

Bingu wa Mutharika is due to visit Scotland next month

"It is only through dialogue - through establishing relationships - that we can help beat corruption in Malawi and other African countries, and allow all efforts to focus on the real problems of aids, hunger and conflict," he said.

"With four million Malawians already facing starvation, the SNP is playing a very dangerous political game which is solely designed to generate headlines and create controversy. It's not on."

BBC Scotland political correspondent Glenn Campbell said the first minister was seeking to help one of the world's poorest countries, at the risk of "entangling himself" with the first African leader to face impeachment.

Mr McConnell is keen to spend up to �3m a year on aid for Malawi and other nations, using the executive's international development fund.