US politician Ron Paul has said that he will have to apologise to his supporters for not punching Sacha Baron Cohen when he tricked him into a spoof interview for his upcoming movie Bruno.

The 73-year-old failed presidential candidate told ABC Radio that the interview did not occur in a hotel as it appears in the film but instead took place in a studio made to look like a bedroom.

Paul said: "I was expecting an interview on Austrian economics. So, that didn't turn out that way. But by the time he started pulling his pants down...I ran out of the room. 'This interview has ended.'

"When this all gets out, I'm probably going to have to apologise to my supporters because I think most of them are going to figure out why in the world didn't I sock this guy in the nose?"

He added: "Movies I used to see include Sound of Music. Tonight, I was sitting here watching Gone With The Wind. So, I don't watch that kind of stuff.

"I understand he makes a lot of money. But, if he makes a lot of money - I have to permit the market to do this."

> Click here to watch the trailer for the new Bruno movie