'Ex'-smoker Obama admits an occasional cigarette

New York, Jun 24: Just a day after the US President Barack Obama signed tough tobacco regulatory measure turning it into law, there are reports of the president confessing that he constantly struggles giving up smoking and sometimes 'messes up' by giving into occasional cigarettes.

The popular leader, who has been trying to kick the habit completely, made the revelation at a White House news conference in between talks on health care reform, a new energy policy and a halt to Iranian repression of dissent.

"As a former smoker, I constantly struggle with it," the New York Daily News quoted him as saying.

He added: "Have I fallen off the wagon sometimes? Yes. Am I a daily smoker, a constant smoker? No."

Obama, who inked the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, insisted that he made it a point not to give in to his 'weak moments' in front of his family.

He said: "I don't do it in front of my kids. I don't do it in front of my family. I would say that I am 95 percent cured. But there are times ... where I mess up." "

ANI