Deputy to issue Obama statement

The deputy chief minister said he intended no offence

A Guernsey minister who made a racist joke about Barack Obama is to make a statement to the States about his behaviour later this week.

Bernard Flouquet joked about the US President-elect at a media briefing in the island on Thursday.

The public services minister has since made an "unequivocal apology" and said he had intended no offence.

Some have called for the deputy chief minister to resign, while others have defended him.

Deputy Mark Dorey said there was no need for Mr Flouquet to "fall on his sword", while Deputy Carla McNulty Bauer said the matter had been blown out of proportion.

'No comment'

The story was published in the national press at the weekend.

Mr Flouquet will meet his policy council colleagues later, although it is not known if his comments will be discussed.

He told BBC News he would not make any further comment until he had made his statement to the House.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission said anyone offended by Mr Flouquet's remarks should write directly to him, but declined to comment further.