Bush apologises to Karzai over grilling by Senate

During the conversation, the Afghan officials said, Bush offered to make the apology public, but Karzai declined. ‘‘Bush called to say he was really sorry about how things had gone in the Senate, and that Karzai should not have been treated like that,’’ said an official familiar with the call.

The problem arose when Karzai visited the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for what the committee had billed as a ‘‘meeting.’’ Generally, heads of state meet the committee in private, but Chairman Richard Lugar, R-Ind, invited Karzai to a hearing room with reporters present.

Karzai was placed at a witness table looking up at the senators, the usual layout for people summoned to testify at a hearing. There were several sceptical and hostile questions that Karzai did not expect and had not prepared for, according to the Afghan officials.

Andrew Fisher, spokesman for Lugar, said on Monday that the Afghan delegation ‘‘clearly knew the format and that (the meeting) would be public.’’

The Afghan Embassy inspected the layout before the meeting and approved it, Fisher said. Karzai was angry on leaving the meeting, according to Afghan officials. He was said to be particularly upset with his ambassador to the US, Ishaq Shahryar, and there have been unconfirmed reports that Shahryar will be replaced. The ambassador was absent on Monday in Kabul for a first gathering of Afghan ambassadors.

In a letter after the hearing, Lugar gave an upbeat assessment. ‘‘I appreciate the difficulties that sometimes arise in public events of this type as Senators probe all aspects of the issue at hand. Be assured that you are considered a true friend and statesman.’’ Karzai was scolded by some committee members. (LATWP)