The White House on Monday condemned Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's comments that Jews rule the world.
Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, signaled the president's disapproval shortly before he sat down in the same room with Mahathir and 19 other leaders to open the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, The AP reported. It is the last of the annual forums that Mahathir will attend before retiring Oct. 31 after 22 years in power.
"Everyone thinks the comments were hateful, they are outrageous," Rice told reporters. Bush "thinks those remarks were reprehensible. I do not think they are emblematic of the Muslim world," she conveyed.
In the weeks before the U.S.-led war in Iraq, Mahathir denounced the United States as "preparing a racist attack" against nonwhite Muslims. The comments earned a rebuke to Malaysia's ambassador in Washington. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
