Canada's PM blasts Musharraf rape comments

OTTAWA - Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has condemned reported remarks by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in which he said many people in Pakistan felt that one way of making money or moving to Canada was to "get yourself raped".

Pakistan is under fire for what human rights groups say is rampant violence against women. In one recent high-profile case, a woman who said she had been gang-raped fled to Britain and then sought permission to move to Canada.

Martin said he had raised the matter with Musharraf during a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations.

"I stated unequivocally that comments such as that are not acceptable and that violence against women is also a blight that besmirches all humanity," Martin told a news conference at the United Nations.

"And the statement that was made -- we did not appreciate (it) and we felt we had to deal with this... (Musharraf) took the position that that was not a statement he had made," Martin said. The news conference was televised live in Canada.

Musharraf told the Washington Post earlier this week that other countries had problems with rape as well.

"You must understand the environment in Pakistan... This has become a moneymaking concern. A lot of people say if you want to go abroad and get a visa for Canada or citizenship and be a millionaire, get yourself raped," the paper quoted him as saying during the course of a long interview.

- REUTERS