Bush misspeaks during APEC speech

SYDNEY, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush imitated fictional Mrs. Malaprop during an economic forum in Sydney, first thinking he was in Europe, then mislabeling the event.

The gaffes, spoken during his address to Asia Pacific Economic Council summit of world leaders, were made as members of an Australian television show exposed a security weakness, the Times of London reported. The crew, disguised as the official Canadian motorcade, were allowed to pass through checkpoints near the hotel where Bush was staying.

Bush thanked "Austrian" Prime Minister John Howard for being a cordial "OPEC" host. Realizing his mistake, Bush said, "I mean the APEC summit. I have been invited to the OPEC summit next year," the newspaper quoted Bush as saying.

Bush hasn't been invited to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries next year, his aides said. It was a joke.

It was no joke for security forces, however, when they learned that "The Chasers War on Everything" crew entered the fenced-off security area where 21 world leaders were housed. The show's crew face up to six months in jail.