London, Mar 27: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who last year referred to Barack Obama as “sun-tanned”, has returned to the same subject after he claimed the difference between their leadership styles was that he is ‘paler’.

The 72-year-old made the comment to a reporter who compared the two leaders and their handling of the economic crisis.

It so happened that a journalist commented that his response to the global economic crisis made him seem like Obama, reports The Guardian.

To the comment, Berlusconi shot back: "I''m paler, also, because it''s been so long since I''ve been in the sun."

He quickly added: "He is more handsome, younger and taller."

The blunder echoed his remarks in November when he described the newly-elected US President as ''handsome, young and suntanned''.

He was attacked on all sides for the apparently racist comment, but claimed only ''imbeciles'' would not take the remark as a joke. (ANI)