Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown is now the second world leader to withdraw from attending the opening ceremony of the Olympics, according to AP:
The confirmation from Brown’s Downing Street office means he is the second major world leader after German Chancellor Angela Merkel to do so.
The White House left open the possibility Wednesday that U.S. President George W. Bush might also skip the opening ceremonies, which some world leaders have suggested would serve as a signal of displeasure over China’s crackdown in Tibet.
However, Brown’s Downing Street office said he was not boycotting the Olympics and would attend the closing ceremony.
