Clark rejects call for apology to Canberra

By AUDREY YOUNG political reporter

Prime Minister Helen Clark has dismissed calls by Bill English for her to apologise to Australia as well as the United States over comments she made about the Iraq war.

There was no need to apologise because there had not been the slightest whisper that offence had been taken, she said last night through a spokesman.

It was only the Australian newspaper and Bill English, the National leader, who had suggested it.

In an embarrassing turn of events for a Prime Minister who prides herself on her flair in foreign affairs, Helen Clark has asked New Zealand's Ambassador to Washington, John Wood, to convey her apology to the United States Administration after suggesting the war would not have occurred had Democrat Al Gore been elected instead of George W. Bush.

He is using as a reference a letter sent to the United States Ambassador, Charles Swindells, last week from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, setting out what the Government saw as the context of the comments, but which won't be released.

The United States Embassy last week described the comments as "regrettable", a strong criticism in diplomatic language.

Mr English is suggesting similar offence may have been taken by the Australians over another Helen Clark comment when she said: "This Government does not trade the lives of young New Zealanders, for a war it does not believe in, in order to secure some material advantage."

She had been aiming the comments at Act and National.

But Mr English contends, as does the Australian newspaper which editorialised on the matter, that she implied Australia had joined the conflict in order to secure a free-trade deal.

The newspaper said the distinction between New Zealand and Australia, which is negotiating a free-trade agreement with the United States, was "odious and plain wrong".

Mr English interpreted her apology as conceding she had made "a serious diplomatic gaffe".

"Obviously it is in New Zealand's best interest to have the closest possible relationship with Australia. We urge her to shore up that relationship with an apology before it is too late."

Herald Feature: Iraq war