London, Dec 27: U2 frontman Bono has been criticized by bandmate Larry Mullen over getting too friendly with "war criminal" Tony Blair.

Bono, who is a political campaigner, has often been pictured alongside the former prime minister. But drummer Larry Mullen doesn't like the intimacy.

"Tony Blair is a war criminal and I think he should be tried as a war criminal. Then I see Bono and him as pals and I'm going, `I don't like that'," The Sun quoted Mullen, as telling Q magazine.

"I understand why people find it really offensive," Mullen added.

He said: "On the other hand, I think it has made people understand where Bono's coming from, in that he's prepared to use his weight as a celebrity, at great cost to himself and his family, to help other people.

"I don't think there's much of an upside for him and I don't think he chooses where he goes and who he meets.

"But as an outsider, looking in, I cringe." (ANI)