Darling denies G20 duck rumours

Alistair Darling today denied rumours he was to set a duck loose at this week's meeting of the G20 nations in London, England.

It is traditional for finance ministers to play a practical joke on the final day, but the chancellor denied he had planned to smuggle a live duck into the meeting in London's East End and pretend to serve it to delegates.

He said: "Yes, the Treasury team are planning to merk representatives, and we have even contacted Rio Ferdinand for tips after his World Cup Windups.

"But I am not letting you know what: prepare for the unpredictable!"

At the 2005 Gleneagles G8 meeting, the then chancellor Gordon Brown dressed up as Osama Bin Laden - a move deemed as insensitive after the London Tube bombings.

It is expected that Darling's joke will centre on G20 newboy Barack Obama.

Whitehall whispers point to a fake inauguration ceremony, where the US president will be convinced to drink his body weight in English Ale.

A White House spokesman said: "The secret service is fully aware of the danger and will bring down any threat - human or duck - to the President with absolute deadly force.

"Only joking! What do you think we are, special Olympic spazmos who cannot take a joke or something? Duh!"

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