Mahathir slams Europe in book

Mahathir slams Europe in book

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Outspoken Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad takes aim at Europe in a new book, calling Europeans war mongers who have turned to currency speculation to impoverish Asia.

"Never a year passed in their history when they were not fighting, not warring. Peace does not mean not fighting, only no formal war," Mahathir says in his soon-to-be-released book, A New Deal for Asia.

The 73-year-old leader, who has blamed foreign currency speculators for Malaysia's first recession in 13 years, said Europe's history is one of endless wars, each one more ferocious than the last, Bernama said.

Mahathir, in power since 1981, said Europe's war machines were transported across oceans to do battle with people in Asia, Africa and the Americas. Peace is anathema to Europeans, the national news agency quoted him as saying.