Clark's Comments Used by Pro-Iraq Media

The Prime Minister's foolish assertion that the war in Iraq is not going to plan has been picked up and repeated by pro-Iraq media in the Middle East, ACT Deputy Leader Ken Shirley said today.

"Our traditional allies must have been furious when the Prime Minister made her breathtaking comments to a Sunday newspaper that 'if Al Gore were US President, the war on Iraq wouldn't have been started'. But Ms Clark wasn't finished. Yesterday she went even further, claiming the war was 'not going to plan', and characterising the liberation of Iraq as an "invasion".

"The Saudi-based news service Asharq Al-Awsat proudly flaunts Helen Clark's statements on its website, alongside an "exclusive" article headlined "God's Will is Stronger Than US Weaponry". The headline: "Political War Already Lost: Expert". "The website is http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=24558

An Iranian radio station, Farda, is also believed to have run an account of the Prime Minister's statement.

"Helen Clark's anti-US statements are fodder for thugs and extremists around the world. The damage has been done already, and if Ms Clark had any integrity, she would issue a sincere apology to our traditional friends and allies," Mr Shirley said.

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