Report: Labour probes peer over Obama bounty claim

[n2doc]

PDT LONDON, United Kingdom (AP) --

Britain's Press Association and other British media say a Labour Party member of the House of Lords has been suspended while the party investigates reports that he offered a 10 million pound ($16 million) bounty for the capture of President Barack Obama.

Nazir Ahmed has denied making the comments, which were reported by press in Pakistan during a visit to that country.

An unnamed Labour spokeswoman told the Press Association on Sunday that the party would condemn the purported comments by Lord Ahmed if the investigation proves he made them.

The reports come days after the U.S. announced a $10 million bounty on Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, an Islamist who operates openly in Pakistan and founded the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/04/15/international/i155032D27.DTL

[YellowRubberDuckie]

1. Oh that can't be good.

I'm curious to see how this plays out.

[Pirate Smile]

2. WTF

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Not Obama - he said a reward for bringing Bush or Blair to the ICC

Channel 4 got hold of video, and has translated it themselves:

The direct translation from Urdu of Lord Ahmed's comments read: "America has just said that they will give a reward of $10m to anyone who arrests or hands over Hafiz Saeed. I am saying that even if I have to beg in Haripur, Pakistan, the US or Britain.

"Even if I have to beg I am willing to raise and offer £10m so that George W Bush and Tony Blair can be brought to the International Court of Justice on war crimes charges. Even if I have to sell my house I am ready to do it.

"The thing is that, if they are talking sensibly then I too am talking sensibly. The US has put pressure on Pakistan. To release this pressure I am are saying this. But the thing is, a political move should be countered with a political move."

http://www.channel4.com/news/peer-suspended-for-offering-bounty-on-obama