Mahathir Rebukes Bush

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 26 - After accusing Jews of controlling the world, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad accused President George W. Bush of lying, the BBC reported Sunday.

Mahathir said he rejected a U.S. State Department's account of his exchange with Bush at the recently concluded economic summit in Bangkok. The state department said Bush told the Malaysian leader his remarks about the Jews were divisive and wrong.

"It was the biggest lie. If he'd rebuked me I'm quite sure I would have rebuked him also," Mahathir said.

"If you can tell a lie about the existence of weapons of mass destruction and go to war (against Iraq) because of it I'm not surprised if he is prepared to lie about what he said to me."

The Malaysian leader insisted that Bush had apologized for speaking out against him, after which they were "walking practically hand in hand."

Mahathir also said a call by some Jewish groups for a boycott of Malaysia amounts to blackmail.

Mahathir made his earlier remarks against Jews before Muslim leaders gathered in Malaysia for a conference.

Source: United Press International