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PM Howard condemns fake leaflets PM Howard condemns fake leaflets
(about 3 hours later)
Australia's prime minister has condemned members of his own party for distributing leaflets implying the Labor opposition supports terrorism.Australia's prime minister has condemned members of his own party for distributing leaflets implying the Labor opposition supports terrorism.
John Howard, who trails Labor's Kevin Rudd in opinion polls ahead of a Saturday's general election, said the Liberal Party had not authorised them.John Howard, who trails Labor's Kevin Rudd in opinion polls ahead of a Saturday's general election, said the Liberal Party had not authorised them.
The flyers purported to be from an Islamic group thanking Labor for its sympathy for the Bali bombers.The flyers purported to be from an Islamic group thanking Labor for its sympathy for the Bali bombers.
Two Liberal activists have been expelled from the party.Two Liberal activists have been expelled from the party.
The leaflets were distributed in the Sydney constituency of Lyndsay - a marginal seat in what will be a keenly fought election. The leaflets were distributed in the Sydney constituency of Lyndsay - a marginal seat in a keenly fought election campaign.
'Unjustly sentenced''Unjustly sentenced'
Two local activists - Gary Clark and Greg Chijoff - admitted involvement and issued statements apologising for the leaflet campaign.Two local activists - Gary Clark and Greg Chijoff - admitted involvement and issued statements apologising for the leaflet campaign.
It was not immediately clear if they were the two activists who had been expelled.It was not immediately clear if they were the two activists who had been expelled.
Mr Clark is married to current Liberal MP for Lyndsay, Jackie Kelly. Mr Chijoff's wife is her would-be Liberal successor, Karen Chijoff.Mr Clark is married to current Liberal MP for Lyndsay, Jackie Kelly. Mr Chijoff's wife is her would-be Liberal successor, Karen Chijoff.
It was not authorised by the Liberal Party, it is no part of our campaign John HowardIt was not authorised by the Liberal Party, it is no part of our campaign John Howard
Mr Howard said he accepted the men's assertion that neither of their wives had known of the leaflet campaign.Mr Howard said he accepted the men's assertion that neither of their wives had known of the leaflet campaign.
The BBC's Nick Bryant, in Sydney, says that this kind of scandal is just about the last thing Mr Howard's beleaguered party needs.The BBC's Nick Bryant, in Sydney, says that this kind of scandal is just about the last thing Mr Howard's beleaguered party needs.
Party activists were caught distributing the leaflets on Wednesday.Party activists were caught distributing the leaflets on Wednesday.
They purported to be from the Islamic Australia Federation - a made-up organisation - and referred to the men imprisoned for the 2002 nightclub bomb attacks in Bali, which left more than 200 people dead, many of them Australians.They purported to be from the Islamic Australia Federation - a made-up organisation - and referred to the men imprisoned for the 2002 nightclub bomb attacks in Bali, which left more than 200 people dead, many of them Australians.
"We gratefully acknowledge Labor's support to forgive our Muslim brothers who have been unjustly sentenced to death for the Bali bombings," it said."We gratefully acknowledge Labor's support to forgive our Muslim brothers who have been unjustly sentenced to death for the Bali bombings," it said.
Labor supported the building of new mosques, the leaflets added, thanking the party for backing the entry of controversial cleric Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali - who likened scantily-clad women to uncovered meat.Labor supported the building of new mosques, the leaflets added, thanking the party for backing the entry of controversial cleric Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali - who likened scantily-clad women to uncovered meat.
'Unfair and dishonest''Unfair and dishonest'
Mr Howard said that this type of material should never have been distributed.Mr Howard said that this type of material should never have been distributed.
"It was not authorised by the Liberal Party, it is no part of our campaign, it was wrong and unfair and dishonest for any pamphlet to be distributed suggesting that the Labor Party was sympathetic to the Bali bombers," he said."It was not authorised by the Liberal Party, it is no part of our campaign, it was wrong and unfair and dishonest for any pamphlet to be distributed suggesting that the Labor Party was sympathetic to the Bali bombers," he said.
Mr Rudd has urged the Liberals to clarify who knew about the leaflets.Mr Rudd has urged the Liberals to clarify who knew about the leaflets.
"This says everything about the desperate and desperation politics on the part of the Liberal Party on the eve of the election," he told Australian radio."This says everything about the desperate and desperation politics on the part of the Liberal Party on the eve of the election," he told Australian radio.
The issue has been referred to the Australian Electoral Commission, and Labor has asked it to investigate whether the authors acted illegally by appealing to anti-Muslim sentiment.The issue has been referred to the Australian Electoral Commission, and Labor has asked it to investigate whether the authors acted illegally by appealing to anti-Muslim sentiment.
The president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Ikebal Patel, told ABC radio that while election campaigning to date had been "fairly good" on the issue of migration, the use of the flyers was "quite despicable".The president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Ikebal Patel, told ABC radio that while election campaigning to date had been "fairly good" on the issue of migration, the use of the flyers was "quite despicable".