Gaffe-prone MP grovels over Papua "cannibalism" jibe

LONDON (AFP) - A gaffe-prone lawmaker was in hot water yet again when Papua New Guineas high commissioner slammed him for branding the country a land of "orgies of cannibalism and chief-killing".

Boris Johnson, one of the most colourful figures in British politics, is the higher education spokesman for the main opposition Conservative Party.

He issued an apology after receiving a tongue-lashing for his latest column in The Daily Telegraph newspaper, where he revelled in the turmoil surrounding

Prime Minister Tony Blairs plans to leave office.

The well-spoken politician, famous for his mop of blond hair, wrote: "For 10 years we in the Tory Party have become used to Papua New Guinea-style orgies of cannibalism and chief-killing, and so it is with a happy amazement that we watch as the madness engulfs the Labour Party."

Jean L Kekedo, Papua New Guineas High Commissioner in London, said she was "shocked and appalled" by the bumbling eccentrics remarks.

The comments were "very damaging to the image of Papua New Guinea and an insult to the integrity and intelligence of all Papua New Guineans," she told Britains domestic Press Association (PA) news agency.

"How far removed and ill-informed can Mr Johnson be from the reality of the situation in modern-day Papua New Guinea?"

She insisted that cannibalism was a thing of the past, urged him to visit the country and demanded that he retract his comments.

Johnson was suitably humbled, albeit in typically ironic style. "I would like to thank the high commissioner very much for her clarification," he told the PA.

"I meant no insult to the people of Papua New Guinea who Im sure lead lives of blameless bourgeois domesticity in common with the rest of us," he added.

"My remarks were inspired by a Time Life book I have which does indeed show relatively recent photos of Papua New Guinean tribes engaged in warfare, and Im fairly certain that cannibalism was involved."

"Id be happy to show the book to the high commissioner but Im of course also very happy to take up her kind invite and add Papua New Guinea to my global itinerary of apology."

Johnson is no stranger to getting himself in a jam.

He was once sacked from the Conservative front bench amid press reports that he lied about an affair.

And he was forced to make a grovelling trip to Liverpool after accusing the people of the northwest English port city of "wallowing" in grief over the execution in Iraq of Liverpudlian hostage Ken Bigley.

Someone push a well used sock in his gob, it might improve things