Outgoing US envoy to Singapore, Frank Lavin, gave a speech at his farewell dinner.
Headline from MSNBC's Financial Times section:
"US envoy slaps Singapore over freedom of speech"
Headline from Straits Times, Wednesday 12 October 2005, Home page 3:
"Singapore resilient: outgoing US envoy"
Excerpt from MSNBC's piece (not found in the ST coverage):
The ambassador told an audience at a farewell dinner that he was "embarrassed" when police asked him if he wanted to press charges against six demonstrators protesting the Iraq war in front of the US embassy in 2003. Singapore bans demonstrations of five or more people.
"I said 'no.' I mean, go ahead, hold the signs and say something if you want to," said Mr Lavin, who will become under-secretary for international trade at the US Commerce Department.
