Annan "surprised" Giuliani turned down Saudi check UNITED NATIONS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, said he was "surprised" at the strong reaction of New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in rejecting a Saudi prince's $10 million donation for victims of the World Trade Center carnage.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal toured the site of the Sept. 11 destruction with the Giuliani on Thursday, offered to donate the money and then gave opinions on the Middle East that the mayor opposed.

In response to a question, Annan said: "I was surprised that that happened. We are all entitled to freedom of expression, the prince gave his opinion.

"And I'm surprised the mayor reacted so strongly in returning the check," he told a news conference after the Nobel Prize Committee in Norway awarded him and the United United Nations its centennial peace prize.

The prince on Thursday said: "The government of the United States of America should re-examine its policies in the Middle East and adopt a more balanced stance toward the Palestinian cause," adding:

"Our Palestinian brethren continue to be slaughtered at the hands of Israelis while the world turns the other cheek." In response, the mayor said: "Not only are those statements wrong, they are part of the problem."

In Dubai on Friday, a statement issued by the Kingdom Holding Company, of which Prince Alwaleed is chairman, said: "Although Prince Alwaleed in his statement strongly denounced terrorism, his stance on the U.S. foreign policy was not to the liking of Mayor Giuliani and some U.S. media."

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001