Ghana apologises to Arab diplomats over Israel flag

ACCRA, June 22 (Reuters) Ghana's foreign minister has apologised to ambassadors from Arab nations after a Ghanaian soccer player triggered a diplomatic bust-up by raising the Israeli flag to celebrate a World Cup victory.

Defender John Paintsil, who plays his club football in Israel with Hapoel Tel Aviv, waved a small blue and white Israeli flag after Ghana's 2-0 win over Czech Republic last Saturday, provoking anger from Arab states.

Libyan authorities summoned Ghana's Ambassador in Tripoli earlier this week to express their indignation over the incident, Ghana's Foreign Minister Nana Addo Akufo-Addo said.

But he said Paintsil had no ill intent, and his actions were not officially sanctioned.

''The incident was the act of an individual, who was completely ignorant of its political and diplomatic implications, and clearly had no official support,'' Akufo-Addo told Reuters today.

Akufo-Addo yesterday met ambassadors from the Palestinian Authority, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Algeria and Morocco and apologised to them, he said.

''The government of Ghana deeply regrets this act by one of our citizens,'' Akufo-Addo said.

''Ghana has not drifted from its even-handed diplomacy in the Arab-Israeli conflict and we hope that this incident will not affect our relations with our Arab brothers and sisters,'' he said, adding he believed the explanation was taken in good faith.

Ghana's Football Association apologised on Monday for Paintsil's conduct and the Arab League said yesterday it had received an official apology from Ghana over the incident.

REUTERS SB KN2221