Chretien continued: "And I do think the Western world is getting too rich in relation to the poor world and necessarily, you know, we're looked upon as being arrogant, self-satisfied greedy and with no limits. And Sept. 11 is an occasion for me to realize it even more."
A total of 3,025 people - including 23 Canadians - died in the Sept. 11 attacks. The official count does not include the hijackers.
A total of 3,025 people - including 23 Canadians - died in the Sept. 11 attacks. The official count does not include the hijackers.
Chretien comes from the moderate left of Canada's ruling Liberal Party, which has sometimes looked upon US Republican administrations with suspicion.
Canadian Transport Minister David Collenette went further in an interview with the CBC that was shown in the same Sept. 11 package as the prime minister's. He likened some leading players in the United States to bullies on an ice hockey rink.
Canadian Transport Minister David Collenette went further in an interview with the CBC that was shown in the same Sept. 11 package as the prime minister's. He likened some leading players in the United States to bullies on an ice hockey rink.
Chretien's relations with US President George W. Bush have always been cool and this criticism of Washington's increasingly unilateral foreign policy is unlikely to win him fresh friends in the White House.
Chretien's office on Thursday denied media reports he felt Washington was responsible for the attacks, saying the prime minister was instead focusing on the increasing divide between rich and poor "which has been clearly used by fanatics to fan resentment toward the developed world.
Chretien's office on Thursday denied media reports he felt Washington was responsible for the attacks, saying the prime minister was instead focusing on the increasing divide between rich and poor "which has been clearly used by fanatics to fan resentment toward the developed world.