The French propensity to blame Anglo-Saxon speculators, particularly those in London, whenever the politicians aren't getting their way, is well known.

The government blames "hoarders" and "speculators" for food shortages.

He blames speculators and traders for the shock waves and says the surge in prices can't be justified by the oil crisis.

Chávez blamed "speculators and hoarders" for these scarcities.

For months, Malaysia resisted the pain, blaming foreign speculators, playing down its economic problems and leading analysts to brand it a country in denial.

He blames speculators for rapidly inflating and then depressing the market by trading in condominiums and oceanfront homes that they bought with low-interest loans requiring only small down payments.

In a recent interview with Telem, a local news agency, Mr. Cavallo blamed speculators for growing hysteria and pressure on Argentina to devalue.

Mr Salmond later blamed "spivs and speculators" for the problems which caused the takeover of HBOS, as the crisis of confidence in the financial sector hit Scotland.

Wholesalers blamed speculators in the gasoline futures market.

The country's prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, has blamed foreign speculators for the crisis, pointing to their withdrawal of capital.