US mayor shamed by phone scandal

Kwame Kilpatrick emerged from a week's self-imposed seclusion to make the emotional speech on Wednesday night.

He made the address on live television from a church in Detroit, with his wife standing beside him.

Mr Kilpatrick, who is being investigated for perjury, said he would return to work on Thursday morning.

The mayor is being investigated over claims he lied under oath last year when he said he had not engaged in a physical relationship with Christine Beatty, his chief-of-staff.

Ms Beatty announced her resignation on Monday.

'Embarrassment'

It was Mr Kilpatrick's first appearance since a Detroit newspaper reported last week that sexually explicit text messages dating from 2002 and 2003 had been found on Ms Beatty's mobile phone.

During Wednesday's 10-minute appearance, Mr Kilpatrick apologised for "the embarrassment and disappointment" caused by recent events.

He did not refer to the text message scandal directly, but he apologised to his family and his supporters for the pain he had caused them.

"I want to make a public apology to my entire family, and specifically to the four people who I love the most in the world," he said, referring to his wife and three sons.

Mr Kilpatrick, 37, who could run for a third term next year, went on: "I am the mayor. I made the mistake," he said. "I am accountable."

But he rejected rumours that he might resign.

"I would never quit on you," he declared. "Ever."

His wife, Carlita Kilpatrick, also spoke, expressing the pain her husband had caused but urging the city to remain loyal to him.

"I am angry, I am hurt and I am disappointed," she said, holding his hand. "But there is no question I love my husband."

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
City of Detroit website
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites