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| Boris Johnson 'misreported' over Saudi Arabia | Boris Johnson 'misreported' over Saudi Arabia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson's comments on Saudi Arabia were "misreported", Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has said. | Boris Johnson's comments on Saudi Arabia were "misreported", Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has said. |
| The foreign secretary had said the country was fighting "proxy wars", prompting Downing Street to state that this was not "the government position". | The foreign secretary had said the country was fighting "proxy wars", prompting Downing Street to state that this was not "the government position". |
| But Sir Michael told the BBC Mr Johnson's comments had been taken "out of context" and Saudi Arabia remained a "key ally of the UK". | |
| Labour insisted the foreign secretary had been "slapped down". | Labour insisted the foreign secretary had been "slapped down". |
| Mr Johnson's comments, made at a meeting in Italy last week, were taken to refer to Saudi Arabia's involvement in the war in neighbouring Yemen, where it is supporting the country's president against the Houthi rebel movement. | Mr Johnson's comments, made at a meeting in Italy last week, were taken to refer to Saudi Arabia's involvement in the war in neighbouring Yemen, where it is supporting the country's president against the Houthi rebel movement. |
| The foreign secretary is currently in Saudi Arabia, where he met King Salman earlier on Sunday. The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner said the talks had been described as "warm and genial". | The foreign secretary is currently in Saudi Arabia, where he met King Salman earlier on Sunday. The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner said the talks had been described as "warm and genial". |
| When questioned on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, Sir Michael said: "The media, with great respect, are starting to over-textualise every remark that he (Mr Johnson) makes." | When questioned on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, Sir Michael said: "The media, with great respect, are starting to over-textualise every remark that he (Mr Johnson) makes." |
| He added: "Boris's comment, as we have already established, was taken out of context in the reporting that implied we didn't support Saudi Arabia. Downing Street was asked the question and Downing Street answered it." | He added: "Boris's comment, as we have already established, was taken out of context in the reporting that implied we didn't support Saudi Arabia. Downing Street was asked the question and Downing Street answered it." |
| The defence secretary also said: "The government is absolutely clear that what Saudi Arabia is entitled to do is defend itself." | The defence secretary also said: "The government is absolutely clear that what Saudi Arabia is entitled to do is defend itself." |
| He warned against "moralising", adding: "If you want to bring about change in Saudi Arabia, you have got to work with Saudi Arabia, and we are doing that." | He warned against "moralising", adding: "If you want to bring about change in Saudi Arabia, you have got to work with Saudi Arabia, and we are doing that." |
| 'Absolutely clear' | 'Absolutely clear' |
| Last week, The Guardian newspaper published footage of a meeting in Rome where Mr Johnson spoke. Citing Saudi Arabia and Iran, he said "the tragedy for me - and that's why you have these proxy wars being fought the whole time in that area - is that there is not strong enough leadership in the countries themselves". | Last week, The Guardian newspaper published footage of a meeting in Rome where Mr Johnson spoke. Citing Saudi Arabia and Iran, he said "the tragedy for me - and that's why you have these proxy wars being fought the whole time in that area - is that there is not strong enough leadership in the countries themselves". |
| He said there were politicians in the region who were "twisting and abusing religion and different strains of the same religion in order to further their own political objectives". | He said there were politicians in the region who were "twisting and abusing religion and different strains of the same religion in order to further their own political objectives". |
| The prime minister's spokeswoman later said that Theresa May wanted to strengthen the relationship with Saudi Arabia, adding that "we are supporting the Saudi-led coalition in support of the legitimate government in Yemen against Houthi rebels". | The prime minister's spokeswoman later said that Theresa May wanted to strengthen the relationship with Saudi Arabia, adding that "we are supporting the Saudi-led coalition in support of the legitimate government in Yemen against Houthi rebels". |
| She said: "Those are the prime minister's views - the foreign secretary's views are not the government's position on, for example, Saudi Arabia and its role in the region." | She said: "Those are the prime minister's views - the foreign secretary's views are not the government's position on, for example, Saudi Arabia and its role in the region." |
| 'Human rights abuses' | 'Human rights abuses' |
| Also speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: "In over 20 years in Parliament, I've never heard a foreign secretary slapped down the way Theresa May slapped down Boris." | Also speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: "In over 20 years in Parliament, I've never heard a foreign secretary slapped down the way Theresa May slapped down Boris." |
| She added that Mr Johnson had been "right" in his reported comments, saying Saudi Arabia had been involved in "proxy wars" and "human rights abuses". | She added that Mr Johnson had been "right" in his reported comments, saying Saudi Arabia had been involved in "proxy wars" and "human rights abuses". |
| Mr Johnson is due to meet Saudi Defence Minister Prince Mohamed Bin Salman, who is leading the campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen, later. | Mr Johnson is due to meet Saudi Defence Minister Prince Mohamed Bin Salman, who is leading the campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen, later. |