Pope John Paul II's spokesman is strongly denying comments attributed to him in a newspaper interview in which he criticises the United States and Israel.
Vatican spokesman Dr Joaquin Navarro-Valls accused the respected Venice newspaper Il Gazzettinoof publishing a "false" interview today.
In the interview, Dr Navarro-Valls criticises US President George Bush for using Iraq's refusal to recognise UN resolutions as an excuse to launch a military strike on Iraq, adding that Mr Bush wanted "Saddam's head on a plate".
The paper quotes Dr Navarro-Valls as saying that the United States had protected Israel by using its Security Council veto when the Israelis ignored UN resolutions.
"I note with surprise that assertions on international politics have been attributed to me in the form of a newspaper interview that I never gave," Dr Navarro-Valls told reporters at the Vatican.
"I can confirm that these statements do not correspond to my thinking and that they correspond even less to those of the Holy See."
But the newspaper said in a statement today that it was standing by its story.
In the contested interview, Dr Navarro-Valls is also quoted as suggesting that the US response to the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Centre was disproportionate.
"In the two towers, less than 3,000 people were killed, while in Afghanistan at least 5,800 people were killed, according to the Americans themselves".
The Pope's spokesman rarely grants interviews and his alleged comments will seriously embarrass Vatican insiders concerned at the effect on the Holy See's relations with Israel, as well as the offence given to Washington.
AFP