Report: Sarkozy Complained to Obama of 'Liar' Netanyahu
French President Nicolas Sarkozy called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "liar" in talks with U.S. President Barack Obama, who then complained of having to deal with him daily, a report said Tuesday.
The private conversation, held during the recent G20 summit in the French city of Cannes, was overheard by a number of journalists after it was inadvertently transmitted over a system used for translation, media website Arret sur Images reported.
"I can't see him anymore, he's a liar," Sarkozy said in French during the talks.
"You may be sick of him, but me, I have to deal with him every day," Obama replied in comments that were translated into French.
A number of journalists contacted by Agence France Presse confirmed hearing the remarks.
Without providing quotes, the website said Obama had also chastised Sarkozy for not having informed the United States of France's plans to vote in favor of Palestinian membership in U.N. cultural agency UNESCO.
Journalists were able to hear the conversation after they were given translation devices for a press conference but told they would receive headphones later, the website reported.
Plugging their own headphones into the devices, they realized they could hear the French translation of the conversation between the two leaders.
The website quoted a number of journalists saying a group decision was made not to report the conversation as it was considered private and off-the-record.
Source: Agence France Presse
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