LONDON (REUTERS) - British rocker Rod Stewart apologised on Friday (March 3) after he appeared to mimic a desert execution by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants, with critics saying it was disrespectful to victims of the group.

Stewart, 72, appeared in a clip posted on his wife's Internet Instagram account in which he draws his finger across the throat of a man kneeling in front of him.

It was filmed ahead of a concert he performed in Abu Dhabi.

Critics said the clip was reminiscent of ISIS propaganda videos featuring the beheading of Western hostages.

Stewart, known for his 1970s hits Maggie May and Da Ya Think I'm Sexy, apologised but said his actions had been misinterpreted and that he had been recreating fictional scenes from TV shows such as Game Of Thrones.

"From re-enacting The Beatles' Abbey Road crossing to spontaneously playing out Game Of Thrones, we were simply larking about pre-show," he said in a statement.

"Understandably, this has been misinterpreted and I send my deepest apologies to those who have been offended."