Duterte says did not insult Obama, calls UN chief 'fool'

JAKARTA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte insisted Friday he had not intended to insult US leader Barack Obama, but immediately took aim at another global figure by labeling UN chief Ban Ki-moon a "fool".

Duterte sparked a storm on the eve of an Asian summit this week by labeling Obama a "son of a whore", prompting the US president to cancel a planned meeting. The pair met briefly later at the gathering in Laos after Duterte expressed regret.