Mahathir takes another swipe at Aussies

Mahathir takes another swipe at Aussies

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad took another swipe on Saturday at old foe Australia while signing a political accord with Papua New Guinea, a former Australian colony.

"Australian politicians are very fond of passing unwelcome remarks, and of course that rubs us up wrongly and we respond likewise," Mahathir said at the conclusion of his two-day visit to this nearly bankrupt Pacific island state.

Mahathir's attack came after Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare sharply criticized Australia, the United States and the World Bank at a dinner Friday night in honor of Mahathir, who he praised as a "spokesman of the underdogs of the world."

Mahathir, who steps down next week, and Somare share a deep disdain for Australia.

-- AP