PM denies hairdryer tantrum
2009-05-08 08:04
Canberra - Australian Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd on Friday denied accusations he lost his temper at troops
in Afghanistan because he could not find a hairdryer ahead of a
frontline photo opportunity.
A rival conservative MP, just back from Afghanistan, said
Rudd threw a "wobbly" during a secret dash into Afghanistan
just before Christmas, with troops at the Australian base of
Tarin Kowt "going on and on about it".
The alleged incident was widely reported in newspapers on
Friday and used by conservative opposition leader Malcolm
Turnbull to attack Rudd.
"This particular allegation by Turnbull is absolutely
ridiculous and absolutely false and designed," Rudd told local
radio.
Rudd was forced to publicly apologise last month after
reports surfaced that he reduced an air force flight attendant
to tears, shouting at her because his preferred meal was
unavailable.
He has sought to craft an image as relaxed and easy-going,
in a country where voters punish perceived elitism.
Facing re-election next year, Rudd said his time in
Afghanistan had been focused entirely on speaking with troops
and finding out "what they were doing on the ground".
A poll this week showed Australia's worsening economy and
soaring state borrowings had begun to hurt the popularity of
Rudd's centre-left government.