Opposition leader Tony Abbott has condemned Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd for mocking the contributions of France and Germany in the war in Afghanistan, saying their loss of casualties shouldn't be scorned.
In the most recent Australian related cables released by WikiLeaks Mr Rudd described the contribution by France and Germany in fighting the Taliban as "organising folk-dance festivals".
Mr Abbott told reporters on Friday that he was disappointed by the comments which appeared to have made light of the work of allies.
"It's a serious struggle that we are involved in and it's a very serious contribution that France and Germany have made," he said outside a primary school in Girrawheen.
"They've taken significant casualties in the process of making their contribution and I don't think it should be scorned." Mr Abbott said previous leaked cables which described Mr Rudd as controlling and suggested Labor powerbroker Mark Arbib fed information to the US reveals a "divided and dysfunctional government".
"In today's case the actions and opinions and forms of expressing them just don't look very prime ministerial," Mr Abbott said. The Liberal leader said he worried the comments would not harm relations with the countries.
In the recent leaked cables, Mr Rudd expressed pessimism about the war in Afghanistan and the outlook "scared the hell out of him". However Mr Abbott said on his recent visit to Afghanistan he saw first hand the work and professionalism of the armed forces and believed they were making progress.
On the issue of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Mr Abbott said the government's view his actions were illegal were wrong and urged them to make a considered and appropriate judgment.
"The initial opinion of the shadow Attorney General Senator George Brandis SC is that he's acting in a way which is morally reprehensible but doesn't appear to be against Australian law."
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