Toronto Mayor Puts Foot in Mouth

T O R O N T O, Canada, June 21 -- Toronto was cringing inembarrassment today after news its flamboyant mayor hadjoked — before a trip to Africa to promote the city's bid forthe 2008 Olympic Summer Games — that he feared being put in avat of boiling water while natives danced around him.

Mel Lastman, an outspoken mayor with a history of gaffes,apologized profusely for his comments, but newspapers saidtoday his remarks could jeopardize Toronto's efforts to winthe Games.

"What the hell do I want to go to a place like Mombasa[Kenya]?" Lastman quipped to a Toronto reporter before the tripearlier this month.

"Snakes just scare the hell out of me. I'm sort of scaredabout going there, but the wife is really nervous. I just seemyself in a pot of boiling water with all these natives dancingaround me," he said in comments that became well known Wednesday.

'A Source of Angst'

Toronto, an ethnically diverse city, is one of thefront-runners in the race to land the 2008 Olympics, along withParis and Beijing. The city was in an uproar today.

"Mayor Mel Lastman is a diplomatic disaster, a publicrelations nightmare and now a source of angst for Toronto'sOlympic bid," the Toronto Star wrote.

"He's said some weird things in over 31 years of publiclife, but few can match the ignorance, insensitivity andpotential damage of the 'off the cuff' remarks made 13 daysago."

"Mayor's Slur Imperils Games Bid," the National Post roaredon its front page.

Lastman once made an international appeal to keep the SpiceGirls together and is also battling a lawsuit from his formermistress and her two sons, now aged 42 and 38.

Extending an Apology

"I wish to extend my apologies to anyone who was offendedby my comments," he said in a statement Wednesday.

"I am sincerely sorry for any offense I have caused. Myvisit to Kenya was a most enjoyable one. The people of Kenyawere very hospitable to our entire delegation, and they treatedus wonderfully during our stay."