Clark under attack amid claims Bush is offended

By AUDREY YOUNG political reporter

Prime Minister Helen Clark faced fierce pressure in Parliament yesterday over claims that United States President George W. Bush had taken personal offence at her comments on the Iraq war and that his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, had asked the Government for an explanation.

Opposition parties seized on signs that the diplomatic fallout from her comments was more serious than originally portrayed, causing business concern as well as embarrassment for the Prime Minister.

Under attack for a second day, Helen Clark was accused of underplaying the potential damage and of dodging questions in the House on Tuesday about the text of an apology - which Foreign Minister Phil Goff provided later that night.

She was grilled over the wording of the letter, which appears to apologise for the fact that offence was taken rather than apologising for the remarks themselves.

Offence was taken in Washington when Helen Clark told reporters in New Zealand she believed the war would not have occurred under a Democratic Al Gore presidency and that the war appeared not to be going according to plan.

Act leader Richard Prebble, citing unnamed senior sources in the Administration, said the President himself had taken offence.

"It would be equivalent to President Bush saying that relations with New Zealand would be much easier if Bill English was Prime Minister.

"Why will the Prime Minister not be frank with this Parliament and the country about how serious the offence is that she caused last week?"

Mr Goff revealed that New Zealand's ambassador, John Wood, had delivered a letter to an official attached to the National Security Council.

"It said she was deeply distressed to learn that the comments she had made has caused the US Government to take offence.

"She said no offence was intended and recognised nevertheless that offence was taken, that she regretted that and wished to apologise for it.

"The letter indicated the value that the Prime Minister put on New Zealand's relationship with the United States as she had reiterated and that it was a matter of great sorrow to her that the episode had arisen."

The council includes President Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Dr Rice.

Mr Goff told Parliament yesterday that the letter asked that her views also be conveyed to the President - a strong indication that the claims of personal offence are true.

The letter was addressed to the official who had raised the issue but Mr Goff indicated the concern had been at the top level when he said through a spokesman last night that the US official was expected "to pass it to any member of the council that raised similar concerns".

National leader Bill English pressed the Prime Minister on whether she had apologised for the comments or just for the offence taken from the comments.

Helen Clark: "I am concerned at anything which looks like it might damage a long-standing relationship which is of value to me and New Zealand.

"Therefore when I hear that offence has been taken, I apologise for that offence being taken."

Herald Feature: Iraq war