DIANE SAWYER - SAWYER RIDICULES NEW YORK MAYOR

U.S. TV host DIANE SAWYER has risked offending Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg - by branding him a "munchkin". The feisty news anchor was interviewing Mayor Bloomberg on her show Good Morning America on Monday (03Dec07) when she poked fun at his height, comparing him to the fictional characters from The Wizard of Oz. She said, "As a little munchkin, did you come into New York ever with your family?" "I don't believe I just called the Mayor of New York a munchkin." But Bloomberg - who lists his height as 5 foot 7 inches (1.7 metres) - took her comments in good humour, according to the New York Daily News. At an event later that day with New York's Governor Eliot Spitzer he joked with reporters about having problems reaching a sign at the Times Square subway station. He said, "Governor Spitzer can reach it. I have real trouble."