The PM was talking about this week's
anti-corruption summit in London.
"We've got some leaders of some
fantastically corrupt countries coming to Britain... Nigeria and Afghanistan,
possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world," he was overheard
saying.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari,
elected last year after vowing to fight corruption, said he was
"shocked".
And a senior Afghan official said the
characterisation was "unfair".
After Mr Cameron's comments, Archbishop of
Canterbury Justin Welby intervened to say: "But this particular president
is not corrupt... he's trying very hard," before Speaker John Bercow said:
"They are coming at their own expense, one assumes?"
The conversation took place at Buckingham
Palace at an event to mark the Queen's 90th birthday, attended by political
leaders and other public figures.
On the face of it, it is perhaps one of
the most undiplomatic things a prime minister could say; to describe two
countries as fantastically corrupt just hours before their leaders visit
Britain.
In response, Mr Buhari said his government
was deeply "shocked and embarrassed" by the PM's comments. Speaking
through his spokesman, he suggested that Mr Cameron must be referring to
Nigeria's past notoriety for corruption before his coming to power last year.
The Afghan embassy in London said tackling
corruption was one of President Ghani's top priorities and "bold"
action had been taken.
"We have made important progress in
fighting systematic capture in major national procurement contracts and are
making progress on addressing institutional issues as well as issues related to
impunity... Therefore calling Afghanistan in that way is unfair."
"The summit will change that.
Together we will push the fight against corruption to the top of the
international agenda where it belongs."
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