鲍威尔一展歌喉 唱功"技惊四座"

Since taking office last year, the ever-dignified Secretary of State has learned that karaoke is a great leveler in the Asia-Pacific, where tradition requires he and other foreign ministers to individually perform a skit-and-song in front of their peers at the end of the region's largest security meeting.

The skit opened with Powell chairing a meeting, looking completely at home as he took advice from staffers. "Don't do it," pleaded one. "No rolling on the floor this time," admonished another.

Then, the American president appeared on a huge backdrop video screen with advice for his chief diplomat. "Practice this time," said President Bush.

Powell and staff then rose and labored with gusto through the old "South Pacific" standard "Some Enchanted Evening" - with lyrics bent to the arcana of Southeast Asian foreign relations.

Loud applause followed. The diplomatic audience agreed - diplomatically, and on background - that Powell was "really good."

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov also found favor, making a trip five centuries into the future and returning as a robot, singing "We Are the World."

Finally, all the ministers lined up to massacre an Abba tune, "I Have a Dream."

"We will be together. It's not a fairy tale," they sang. "We will see the future. We will never fail."

Early reviews were positive.

"Great fun," declared Philippine special envoy Domingo Siazon.

"The Americans were hilarious, the Russians innovative. Powell singing was good," said Syed Hamid Albar, Malaysia's foreign minister. "It was a good break after all this talk on terrorism."