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OTTAWA (CP) - The secretary-general of la Francophonie and former president of Senegal received an undignified welcome this week upon his arrival to Canada.

Abdou Diouf was body-searched upon his arrival at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, according to information revealed by the Liberals on Thursday in the House of Commons. Adding insult to injury, the Liberals claimed a planned meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper was cancelled at the last minute.

The Conservatives deny that was the case, although Diouf's agenda posted on the group's website included a Thursday meeting with Harper and Governor General Michaelle Jean in Ottawa.

"It's a shame," said Liberal MP Denis Coderre, who noted that Diouf is in the country at the invitation of Canada.

"For me, it's an important diplomatic blunder."

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that an incident took place at the airport, but refused to disclose the details.

"We have learned that there was an incident at the airport, as a result of a misunderstanding," said a department spokesman.

"This incident is regrettable and we are trying to shed light on the circumstances."

A spokesman for International Co-operation Minister Josee Verner denied a claim by Coderre that Diouf wasn't met at the airport by diplomatic services.

Diouf travelled to Winnipeg for a weekend ministerial conference of la Francophonie on preventing conflicts.

Verner said she called Diouf in Winnipeg and scheduled a meeting for Friday. She said Diouf was pleased with the result.

"What I can tell you, on this subject, is simply that Mr. Diouf was in good form (Wednesday) when I spoke to him," Verner said.

She said she has spoken to Diouf several times since meeting him last March, and that it was completely normal for her to welcome him to Canada via telephone.

The Liberals disagreed.

Coderre said Diouf was too dignified to openly complain about the treatment he received. The former minister said Harper should call Diouf to apologize.