Spain PM An Internet Star After F Word Slip-Up

The Spanish word `to support` has a similar sound to the expletive uttered by Zapatero.

A video of Spain's prime minister became one of the world's most talked about internet clips on Wednesday after he accidently uttered the F word in a news conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was outlining a Spanish-Russian plan to promote tourism between the two countries during Medvedev's state visit when the verbal faux pas slipped out.

"Tourism is an area of special economic importance in relations between Spain and Russia," said Zapatero, speaking in Spanish. "Therefore we have reached an agreement to stimulate, to favour, to fuck".

With barely a pause, but looking down at his lectern, he quickly continued, "... to support tourism".

Zapatero's office declined to comment on the slip-up.

The Spanish word "to support" has a similar sound to the expletive uttered by Zapatero.

Website www.viralvideochart.com said the video shot to No.3 in the world's most talked about clips -- measured by links to the video and comments about it on blogs -- behind Bizkit the sleep-walking dog and singer Oren Lavie's video 'Her Morning Elegance'.

It was the only non-English language clip in Viral Video's top 20.