Economic sanctions are one way in which the wealthy nations attempt to impose their will on the poor.

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Malaysia said on Tuesday developing countries blamed for the collapse of world trade talks risked an economic backlash from rich nations.

But Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia, one of the vocal critics of the West at the Cancun meeting, would not bow to demands by the developed states.

“I’m quite sure tremendous pressure will be brought to bear on the group of developing countries which have made a stand,” the outspoken leader told reporters.

“We along with other countries, I believe India, Brazil and a few other countries, are speaking up,” said Mahathir, the current chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) of developing nations.

“Of course some countries will be threatened after this, with sanctions or with deprivation of aid,” he said.

The World Trade Organization talks in Cancun, Mexico, broke down on Sunday after rich and poor countries failed to bridge deep divisions over issues ranging from farm reforms to new trade rules.

The collapse means the WTO probably will not meet its own January 2005 deadline for dismantling global trade barriers.

Mahathir said the WTO should not “bulldoze” the views of the rich only.

“I don’t think we can agree to that,” he said.

“Those (Western countries) who have identified Malaysia as one of those countries which led the opposition are trying to intimidate us, to single us out so that we cannot say anything, because we will be regarded as the culprit, the stumbling block,” he said.

“If nobody is allowed to talk, then the rich countries will get their way.”