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Silvio Berlusconi in racism row over â€™suntannedâ€™ Barack Obama aside

07 November 2008 09:38 (UTC +04:00)

Romeâ€“APA. Silvio Berlusconi, Italyâ€™s gaffe-prone Prime Minister, today found himself accused of racism after calling Barack Obama "suntanned", APA reports.
Speaking in Moscow at a joint news conference with President Medvedev, Mr Berlusconi said Mr Obamaâ€™s election had been "hailed by world public opinion as the arrival of a Messiah".
He added: "I will try to help relations between Russia and the United States, where a new generation has come to power. I donâ€™t see problems for Medvedev in establishing good relations with Obama, who is also handsome, young and suntanned".
Mr Berlusconi said he had intended the remark as a compliment and those who failed to understand this were "imbeciles".
Earlier Mr Berlusconi, 72, had said he would be in a position to offer Mr Obama advice on politics because of his age and experience. The Italian leader himself boasts a perma-tan, and has had plastic surgery in an attempt to make him look younger.
Walter Veltroni, the opposition leader, said: "A statesman cannot allow himself to make cabaret jokes while abroad. Berlusconi is seriously damaging the image and dignity of our country." Massimo Donadi of the centre left Italy of Values party said Mr BerlusconÃ¬â€™s "unhappy" remark had exposed the centre rightâ€™s "creeping racism".