The government summoned the US charge d'affaires to lodge a formal protest over remarks by President George W Bush linking Malaysia to a nuclear weapons black market, officials said today.

Envoy Robert Pollard was called to the foreign ministry yesterday and handed a note in which Malaysia said it was "offended that it has been unfairly and deliberately targeted by President Bush".

The row follows a major speech on nuclear proliferation by Bush last week in which he referred to the seizure of centrifuge parts made in Malaysia aboard a ship destined for Libya last October.

Centrifuges can be used to enrich uranium for use in nuclear weapons.

A company owned by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son has admitted manufacturing the seized parts but says it thought they were for use in the oil and gas industry and did not know they were headed for Libya.

"We take exception to Malaysia being deliberately singled out in the speech, when President Bush has also clearly stated that other necessary parts were purchased through network operatives based in Europe, the Middle East and Africa," the protest note says.

"Yet he failed to name the countries hosting them.

"We are disappointed that the speech appears to question the commitment of the government of Malaysia on the issue of non-proliferation."

Useful discussion

Asked to comment on the protest, US embassy spokesman Frank Whitaker told AFP : "The charge had a very useful discussion with the ministry of foreign affairs and I can tell you that we are encouraging Malaysia to take the necessary steps to bring its export control in line with international standards. We believe this would prevent future proliferation activities."

Malaysia is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

On Wednesday, Malaysia welcomed a statement by a senior US official that Bush had not meant to implicate the government in the nuclear black market scandal.

US Undersecretary of State John Bolton said the president had not implied that the Malaysian government was involved in the manufacture or shipping of the centrifuge parts.

Bolton also appeared to accept the explanation of the company involved, Scomi Precision Engineering (Scope), saying "perfectly reputable companies" could manufacture "these devices and not have any idea what they're ultimately being bound for."

Bush had linked the company with the nuclear black market run by Pakistan's disgraced scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, who has admitted selling nuclear secrets. - AFP