Kofi Insults Reporter For Daring To Question Oil-for-Kickbacks Role

Not very diplomatic, Kofi:

His frustration showed when a British journalist, James Bone of the London Times, began questioning him about reports that Annan's son, Kojo, imported a Mercedes-Benz car into Ghana using his father's diplomatic status to avoid taxes.

Annan interrupted the reporter when Bone said, "Your own version of events don't really make sense."

"I think you're being very cheeky," Annan said. "Listen James Bone, you've been behaving like an overgrown schoolboy in this room for many, many months and years.

"You are an embarrassment to your colleagues and to your profession. Please stop misbehaving and please let's move on to a serious subject," Annan added.

The president of the U.N. Correspondents Association said that Bone had a right to ask a question. Annan said he agreed with that "but I think we also have to understand that we have to treat each other with respect."

The Volcker commission faulted Annan for bad management of the oil-for-food program but cleared him of personal wrongdoing, including influencing a contract that went to a company that employed his son.

Asked again if he bought a Mercedes tax-free for his son, Annan said, "I know you are all obsessed about the car. If you want to know more about it, please direct the questions to his lawyer or to him."

It seems this reporter is the one person on earth Kofi Annan is willing to take stern measures against.

posted by Ace at 10:31 AM

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