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Philippines President Duterte may turn down Trump's invite | Philippines President Duterte may turn down Trump's invite |
(35 minutes later) | |
Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte says he may be too "tied up" to accept President Donald Trump's invitation to the White House. | Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte says he may be too "tied up" to accept President Donald Trump's invitation to the White House. |
President Duterte said he "cannot make any definite promise" to travel to the US because of a busy schedule with trips planned to Russia and Israel. | President Duterte said he "cannot make any definite promise" to travel to the US because of a busy schedule with trips planned to Russia and Israel. |
Mr Trump extended the offer to Mr Duterte during a "very friendly" call the two leaders had on Saturday. | Mr Trump extended the offer to Mr Duterte during a "very friendly" call the two leaders had on Saturday. |
The Philippines leader has suggested he was open to better US relations. | The Philippines leader has suggested he was open to better US relations. |
"I am tied up," Mr Duterte told reporters on Monday when asked about Mr Trump's invitation, even though no firm date has yet been set for such a visit. | "I am tied up," Mr Duterte told reporters on Monday when asked about Mr Trump's invitation, even though no firm date has yet been set for such a visit. |
"I cannot make any definite promise. I am supposed to go to Russia, I am supposed to go to Israel." | "I cannot make any definite promise. I am supposed to go to Russia, I am supposed to go to Israel." |
He told reporters that his differences with the US had mainly been with former President Barack Obama, whom he once referred to as a "son of a whore". | He told reporters that his differences with the US had mainly been with former President Barack Obama, whom he once referred to as a "son of a whore". |
"It was not a distancing, but it was rather a rift between me, maybe, and the State Department and Mr Obama, who spoke openly against me," he said. | "It was not a distancing, but it was rather a rift between me, maybe, and the State Department and Mr Obama, who spoke openly against me," he said. |
"Things have changed. There's a new leadership." | "Things have changed. There's a new leadership." |
During Saturday's phone call the two leaders discussed Mr Duterte's controversial war on drugs, which has left more than 7,000 people dead in under a year. | During Saturday's phone call the two leaders discussed Mr Duterte's controversial war on drugs, which has left more than 7,000 people dead in under a year. |
The North Korea crisis was also raised. | The North Korea crisis was also raised. |
According to the White House, Mr Trump "enjoyed the conversation". | According to the White House, Mr Trump "enjoyed the conversation". |
The visit would be a chance "to discuss the importance of the United States-Philippines alliance, which is now heading in a very positive direction", a statement from the White House said. | The visit would be a chance "to discuss the importance of the United States-Philippines alliance, which is now heading in a very positive direction", a statement from the White House said. |
A meeting between Mr Duterte and Mr Obama was called off last year after he insulted the US president. | A meeting between Mr Duterte and Mr Obama was called off last year after he insulted the US president. |
Mr Duterte has faced international condemnation for his brutal crackdown on drugs in the Philippines. | Mr Duterte has faced international condemnation for his brutal crackdown on drugs in the Philippines. |
Thousands of suspected drug dealers have been killed by police or vigilante groups, and tens of thousands more have been rounded up and arrested. | Thousands of suspected drug dealers have been killed by police or vigilante groups, and tens of thousands more have been rounded up and arrested. |
Mr Duterte - who, like Mr Trump, was elected last year - has also said he would be happy to kill the country's millions of drug addicts. | |
US Senator Ben Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on Mr Trump to rescind his invitation. | |
"I am deeply disturbed by President Trump's cavalier invitation to President Duterte to visit the White House," he said in a statement. | |
"Ignoring human rights will not advance US interests in the Philippines or any place else." |