President Clinton stuck to his much-criticised response to the Monica Lewinsky scandal yesterday despite complaints that his apology was unrepentant and his attacks on the investigation too aggressive.
"I have acknowledged that I made a mistake, said that I regretted it, asked to be forgiven," Mr Clinton said when asked about the matter during a press conference with President Boris Yeltsin.
Mr Clinton, who confessed on August 17th to an affair with Ms Lewinsky and to misleading the public about it, said he had said enough about his relationship with the White House aide and "was going back to work".
"I believe that's what the American people want me to do and, based on my conversations with leaders around the world, I think that's what they want me to do," he said.
Advisers and political enemies had urged Mr Clinton to address the subject again and back down on his diatribe against the independent prosecutor, Mr Kenneth Starr, who is examining possible impeachment charges against the President.
However, Mr Clinton said he was "quite heartened by the reaction of the American people and leaders throughout the world" to his initial declaration.
He again denounced Mr Starr's investigation, explaining that in his previous statement he was simply criticising "something that most reasonable people would think had consumed a disproportionate amount of America's time, money and resources and attention".
The only note of contrition Mr Clinton sounded was a reference to his wife, Hillary, and daughter, Chelsea, saying he had spent "a lot of very valuable time with my family" during his two-week holiday.
"I'm going to do my best to continue to go through this personal process in an appropriate way," he said.
The latest response is likely to set off a new round of vocal indignation from Mr Clinton's Republican enemies in Congress, who will soon receive a report from Mr Starr on whether the President obstructed justice or abused his powers in the affair.
Mr Clinton initially denied the relationship in a sworn statement in the Paula Jones sexual harassment suit. However, he admitted to Mr Starr's grand jury that he had had an improper liaison with Ms Lewinsky, who was 21 at the time.
The President has claimed his answers in the Jones case were "legally accurate" and has denied any wrongdoing.
Mrs Clinton, meanwhile, spoke of the "many common projects" she had shared with her husband in the 27 years since they met and said: "Right now, I'm focusing on what I'm doing".
Speaking during a meeting with Mrs Naina Yeltsin, Mrs Clinton said she remained a partner and adviser to her husband.