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.