The leader of the Philippines has expressed regret after insulting Barack Obama by calling him the "son of a whore".

President Rodrigo Duterte said he regretted that his comments came across as a personal attack on the US president.

The two men were due to meet for the first time on Tuesday afternoon at the ASEAN summit in Laos.

But a White House spokesman said the talks had been scrapped after Mr Duterte insulted Mr Obama.

Arriving in Laos on Monday, Mr Duterte appeared to backtrack, saying: "I do not want to quarrel with the most powerful country on the planet."


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A statement issued on Tuesday said: "The President looks forward to ironing out differences arising out of national priorities and perceptions, and working in mutually responsible ways for both countries.

"Our primary intention is to chart an independent foreign policy while promoting ties with all nations, especially the US with which we have had a longstanding partnership."

Earlier on Monday, the Philippines leader called Mr Obama "a son of a whore" as he warned him not to raise questions about extrajudicial killings.

Mr Duterte made the comment when asked by a reporter how he would explain himself if Mr Obama did raise the issue.

"I don't give a s*** about anybody observing my behaviour," he said.

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"I am a president of a sovereign state and we have long ceased to be a colony.

"I do not have any master except the Filipino people, nobody but nobody.

"You must be respectful. Do not just throw questions. Son of a whore, I will swear at you in that forum."

Mr Duterte added his country had not received an apology for alleged misdeeds committed during the US colonisation of the Philippines in the last century.

More than 2,400 suspected drug traffickers and users have been executed since Mr Duterte launched a war on drugs after taking office in June.

The policy has been criticised by the Catholic Church, human rights groups and the United Nations.

President Obama, who is in Laos for meetings with South Asian leaders, will instead meet with South Korean President Park Geun-hye.