Mighty Rapist

President Moshe Katsav of Israel is up on charges that he raped members of his staff.

That model of morality and fair play, President Putin of all the Russias knows how *he* feels about his counterpart's behaviour:

"What a mighty man he turns out to be!" quoth the putain, "He raped 10 women - I would never have expected this from him.

He surprised us all - we all envy him!"

Of course we do. That's how we wish all  politicians directed their time and energies.

Questioned, a Kremlin spokesman admitted Mr Putin made a joke. "Yes really, these words were pronounced." But they were not meant to be overheard.

Oh, then that's OK. Sorry to be listening in and picking up fag-ends. Totally our fault.

All the same, it "in no way means that President Putin welcomes rape". Goodie.

"The president was joking," he told the BBC's World Today radio programme.

"Russian is a very complicated language, sometimes it is very sensitive from the point of view of phrasing.

"I don't think that the proper translation is able to reflect the meaning of the joke."

Rape ... mighty man ... envy ..."

I wonder if I even want a 'proper translation'.