UK diplomat walks out over terror comments

Friday, 9 September 2005 12:00 AM

A former Malaysian prime minister prompted a walk-out by British diplomatic staff after he accused the UK and US of breaking human rights laws in Iraq.

Mahathir Mohamad told a human rights conference in Kuala Lumpur that British and American bombers in Iraq were "murderers" and guilty of acts of terror.

His comments at the private seminar prompted British high commissioner Bruce Cleghorn and a number of diplomats invited to the meeting to walk out in protest.

"Unfortunately I found myself listening to abuse and misrepresentation about my country. I therefore left," Mr Cleghorn said afterwards.

Mr Mohamed, who was leader of Malaysia for 22 years and left office two years ago, was the keynote speaker for the seminar about human rights and globalisation.

As well as criticising the US and UK governments, Mr Mahathir also accused Western human rights campaigners of ignoring the plight of Iraqi people during sanctions.

"The British and American bomber pilots came, unopposed, safe and cosy in their state of the art aircraft, pressing buttons to drop bombs, to kill and maim," he said.

"And these murderers, for that is what they are, would go back to celebrate 'mission accomplished'.

"Who are the terrorists? The people below who were bombed or the bombers? Whose rights have been snatched away?"

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said comments made by Mr Mohamed, who has himself been criticised for his record on human rights, would not affect its relations with the Malaysia government.

"Dr Mohamed is the former prime minister of Malaysia. We do not believe his views represent those of the Malaysian government," a spokesman told politics.co.uk.

"We therefore do not believe it will affect our good relations with the Malaysian government."

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