Peters in row over reported ANZUS comments

Prime Minister Helen Clark is accepting the word of her foreign minister, Winston Peters, that he did not tell an Australian newspaper he would try to enlist support from across the Tasman to rebuild New Zealand's links with the United States.

The Sun-Herald reported on Sunday that Mr Peters said reviving the ANZUS alliance was his top priority, but there would be no moves to change the ban on nuclear-powered warships.

He was reported as saying he would need Australia's help to patch up relations with the US.

On Monday, Mr Peters was reported in the Dominion Post as saying he did not make those comments.

He said that since his appointment he had spoken to Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.

"It (the issue) hasn't been raised with me...I didn't raise it with him," he said.

Today Helen Clark, who is in Papua New Guinea attending the Pacific Forum meeting, said she was aware of the report.

"And I'm aware that Mr Peters has basically pronounced it drivel. It sounds like an Australian Sunday paper to me," she said on National Radio.

"I've got various reports that have been faxed up to me from New Zealand and as far as I can see Mr Peters is distancing himself somewhat from a Sunday paper report."

When she was told the reported quoted Mr Peters, Helen Clark said: "All I can say is I've seen the Sunday paper's report, I've seen Mr Peters' response to it and I really don't have anything else to say about it."

- NZPA