Russian President Vladimir Putin has said several times he favors President George Bush despite their disagreements over Iraq, and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi agreed.
"I don't want to interfere in an election in a foreign country, but I would like President Bush to hang in there, because he is a close friend," Koizumi said.
In Italy, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said "We hope and believe the next president will again be Bush."
The Washington Times said those favoring the Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry include Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain, who said in March "We're aligning ourselves with Kerry."
North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il leans toward Kerry as well, while Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez likes Kerry solely on the grounds that he is not Bush, the newspaper said.
Copyright 2004 by United Press International
