President’s ‘old hag’ comments spark storm

Uruguay’s president Jose Mujica was left red-faced after disparaging remarks apparently aimed at Argentine counterpart Cristina Kirchner and her late husband were picked up by an open microphone.

Buenos Aires swiftly responded with an official protest, calling the comments “unacceptable”.

“This old hag is worse than the cross-eyed man,” Mujica was caught saying at the start of a news conference while speaking quietly with another official.