Prime Minister John Howard has suffered a head injury while attending the athletics events in Sydney, and apologised to dozens of astonished bystanders for being prime minister of Australia.

Mr Howard appeared to "lose control" following Cathy Freeman's victory in the 400 metre final, tripping over Olympics Minister Michael Knight and falling on his head.

Eyewitnesses said that the prime minister was heard saying sorry to bewildered sports fans, Olympic officials, volunteers, and athletes while his concerned minders rushed to catch up.

"I was just about to begin my run up when this small bald man grabbed me and apologised for separating me from my family," said Tinon Malbec, an Ethiopian high jumper. "My first reaction was to call for security, but then someone told me it was the prime minister."

"You Australian's are very lucky to have a leader who apologises so profusely," said Malbec. "In my country our leaders only say sorry after you have disappeared and been summarily executed. This is just another example of the wonderful Olympic spirit at these Sydney games."

Mr Howard was also seen apologising to the running track, the grassy verge, the long jump pit, a tray of sandwiches and a formation of cumulo-nimbus clouds.

Olympic officials declined to comment, although one unofficial source said that IOC Supremo Juan Antonio Sameranch was "extremely upset." The source said "Juan felt that after Howard urinated in the IOC's corporate box, saying sorry was hardly a sufficient gesture and he is considering declaring war on Australia."

Witnesses said Mr Howard's 'sorry' rampage came to end when he was finally restrained and subdued. The prime minister was seen to be given an injection and fitted with a ball gag before being whisked away in a big car with tinted windows.

A spokesman for Mr Howard said nothing happened, nobody saw anything and nobody can prove anything.

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