London mayor labels Sharon 'war criminal'

London's controversial and outspoken mayor, Ken Livingstone, has denounced Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as a war criminal.

In a searing critique of Israeli policies published in The Guardian newspaper, he denounces what he calls the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians at a time when he says Israeli settlements are expanding at the expense of Palestinians.

Mr Livingstone argues that it is necessary to separate criticism of Israeli policies from anti-Semitism, saying the Israeli Government deliberately attempts to confuse the two.

He has also brushed off fresh calls to apologise for comments last month comparing a Jewish reporter to a concentration camp guard.

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