WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said on Wednesday the French, who opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq (news - web sites), sometimes annoy him but he annoys them too.
Powell made the light-hearted comments in an interview with Philadelphia's WPHT radio station in which he said the United States and countries that opposed the war that toppled former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) are getting over their dispute.
"France and the United States have had a long relationship. They have been with us through thick and thin. They were with us when we fought for our independence... But we have had disagreements with the French," Powell said according to a transcript released by the State Department.
"The French are a proud people that have strong views about things and from time to time, yes, they have annoyed me," he said when asked how exasperated he got dealing with the French. "And I'm sure from time to time I have annoyed them."
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