Australian rock singer Jimmy Barnes has condemned the use of his songs as “anthems’’ at anti-Islam rallies, saying he does not support their cause.

It is reported Anti-Islamic group Reclaim Australia played Khe Sanh during a protest in Brisbane on the weekend but Barnes took to social media to tell his fans that he does not support “certain groups” using his songs at such rallies.

The Cold Chisel frontman said in a Facebook post, “It has come to my attention that certain groups of people have been using my voice, my songs as their anthems at rallies. None of these people represent me and I do not support them.

“I only want to say the Australia I belong to and love is a tolerant Australia. A place that is open and giving. It is a place that embraces all sorts of different people, in fact it is made stronger by the diversity of its people,” he said.

Barnes was born in Scotland and moved to Australia at age four. His wife, Jane Mahoney, grew up in Thailand.

“If you look at my family you can see we are a multicultural family. Australia needs to stand up for Love and Tolerance in these modern times,” Barnes wrote.

Khe Sanh, released in 1978, is about an Australian Vietnam veteran dealing with his return to civilian life and is considered one of the most popular songs ever recor

The song only peaked on the national sales charts at a number 41, partly as a result of censors gave it an A Classification, deeming it “not suitable for airplay”.

In 2001, members of APRA, the Australasian music industry’s peak body, nominated Khe Sanh at number eight in a poll of the all-time best Australian songs.

Rallies were held across the country on the weekend. Police were forced to keep Reclaim Australia supporters and anti-racism campaigners apart after violence and four arrests at Saturday’s Melbourne event.

Federal government back­bencher George Christensen and One Nation founder Pauline Hanson addressed rallies in Queensland, urging greater vigilance against Islamic extremism, shrugging off claims the Reclaim Australia movement is racist and divisive.

The Reclaim Australia movement has risen out of fears “radicals of Islam” have compromised the nation’s security, values and way of life. Organisers say they are not racist, despite supporters carrying racist placards and making racist chants, and say they are not affiliated with the neo-Nazis or white supremacists who attend some of their events.

ded by an Australian act.