Putin extends remarks about Georgian leader

Revelling in his reputation for earthy language, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin unabashedly confirmed a crude outburst against Georgia’s president today – and even took the tirade a step further.

The French magazine Le Nouvel Observateur reported last month that Mr Putin told French President Nicolas Sarkozy he would hang Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili by the testicles.

The remark came during the August war between Russia and Georgia.

In a televised question-and-answer session with Russian citizens today, a caller asked Mr Putin whether he would like to see Mr Saakashvili “hanged by one of his body parts”.

“Why by just one part?” Mr Putin responded with a grin.

He went on to accuse the Georgian president of setting off a bloodbath by attacking the Russian-supported breakaway province of South Ossetia.