If there’s one thing worse than being branded a nation of thieves, it’s the suggestion that even your most powerful friend doesn’t trust you.

President Bush did not have his watch stolen when he greeted adoring crowds in Albania, it emerged yesterday. He simply slipped it off his wrist and into his pocket – a truth that has left many Albanians deeply offended.

Footage confirmed the White House’s version of events: that as Mr Bush glad-handed crowds during his ground-breaking visit on Sunday, he deftly slipped his Timex Indiglo off his left wrist and popped into his trouser pocket.

And in one of the few countries in the world where Mr Bush is still hugely popular, that has led to an angry reaction. It appeared that the President had taken to heart guide book warnings about the need to guard valuables in the country. After NBC News showed its own footage of the disappearing watch incident, in which Mr Bush brings his left arm down and slips it off his wrist, the Albanian blogosphere reacted quickly.

“Albanian motto: “In USA WE Trust”, one blogger tartly observed. Another noted sarcastically: “He didn’t want his watch to get stolen by the Albanese 'fans', who he clearly deeply trusts!” AntiAlbanian bloggers also pitched in: “Bush took off his watch cause he knew they’d steal it! Bush did his homework on Albania and Albanians. He knew better than to keep that watch on his wrist!”

A White House spokeswoman, however, denied that Mr Bush’s move had anything to do with a distrust of Albanians. She confirmed to The Times one report yesterday that Mr Bush often removes his watch – and sometimes even his wedding ring – before he works a crowd, whether in the US or abroad. “Just like any other person, the President takes his watch off from time to time,” she said.

Apparent confirmation that Mr Bush removed his own watch put to rest 48 hours of speculation of what had happened to it after footage first appeared on Tuesday showing Mr Bush ploughing into the Albanian crowd with his watch clearly on, and emerging seconds later with it missing.

Mr Bush, wearing his shirt sleeves rolled up, was on walk-about in the Albanian farming village of Fushe Kruje, where he was mobbed by the locals and treated like a visiting rock star. After 40 years of Communist rule Albanians have embraced Mr Bush’s pro-democracy message.

The White House did not help its cause on Tuesday with a series of confusing and at times contradictory answers to what happened to the watch, although by mid-morning, Tony Snow, Mr Bush’s chief spokesman, declared that the timepiece had not been “lifted”.

The wrists of power

— Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi wears a Constantin Vacheron watch. Value $540,000

— Tony Blair wears a Swatch watch. Value $50

— The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, wears a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calender. Value $60,000

— California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wears Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore T 3. Value $25,000

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