British Prime Minister Tony Blair has criticized the BBC’s coverage of Hurricane Katrina as being “full of hatred for America.” Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, in addressing a seminar in New York Saturday organized by former President Bill Clinton, related a conversation he had had with Blair a few days earlier. Murdoch, whose news organizations compete with the British Broadcasting Corp., told the audience: “Tony Blair — perhaps I shouldn’t repeat this conversation — told me yesterday that he was in Delhi last week and he turned on the BBC World Service to see what was happening in New Orleans. “And he said it was just full of hate for America and gloating about our troubles.” Downing Street has declined to comment or elaborate on the prime minister’s views, but the fact that he revealed them to Murdoch will be seen as a further sign of his closeness to the tycoon, British newspaper The Telegraph said Monday. Clinton said that, while the BBC reports were factually accurate, the coverage had been “stacked up” to criticize President Bush’s handling of the catastrophe. The BBC said it was committed to full, accurate and impartial coverage and had not received a complaint from Blair. © Copyright 2005 by United Press International

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