oddsson

In a 2004 speech, Mr. Oddsson, then prime minister, said the country's private banks 'have been expanding overseas on a growing scale.

Mr. Oddsson, in a telephone interview, said it was wrong to think his words prompted the British to act.

Jiang recalled his good talks with Oddsson when the latter visited China in 1994 and expressed his pleasure to see him again.

But last Tuesday, Mr Oddsson made public remarks that were interpreted to mean that Iceland would not meet its obligations to UK depositors.

The nationalistic Mr Oddsson, who has spent his working life in Reykjavik, is thought to be against this.

Oddsson warmly welcomed President Jiang on the part of the Icelandic government and its people.

Mr. Oddsson, in his TV interview, said foreign-exchange reserves weren't the issue.

The key to stabilising Iceland will be the currency, and here the responsibility falls most heavily on Mr Oddsson.

They blame Mr. Oddsson for hastening the banks' collapse with ill-conceived rescue plans.

Bjorn Oddsson: It surely is getting warmer in the world, and glaciers are getting smaller and thinner.

The first McDonald's on the island opened in 1993, with the then prime minister, David Oddsson, eating the first burger.

The central bank's press officer said Mr. Oddsson wouldn't comment.

The governor, David Oddsson, was prime minister for 13 years prior to moving to the CBI in 2005.