S'pore surprised at U.S. comments

S'pore surprised at U.S. comments

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday it was "surprised" at U.S. interest in an American professor facing defamation charges for remarks critical of Asian governments.

Christopher Lingle, a senior fellow in European studies at the National University of Singapore, was questioned by Singapore police on Monday in connection with investigations into possible contempt of court and criminal defamation arising from an article he wrote.

The U.S. State Department said in Washington this week that it had been in touch with Lingle, 46, over the incident."We are disappointed at this apparent attempt by Singaporean authorities to intimidate Professor Lingle," the U.S. statement said.