Safi deputy mayor resigns

Safi's deputy mayor, Nationalist councillor Alexis Callus, who was in the news for the past week because of his association with an extreme right-wing Website, has resigned from the local council.

In a press statement, Mr Callus admitted he was wrong in expressing such views over the Internet, and even denounced right-wing policies.

Mr Callus, 24, had been under immense pressure to resign from his post after The Sunday Times last week revealed that he had been involved in publicising a meeting in Safi which was to be addressed by Norman Lowell yesterday week in the wake of clashes between the Armed Forces and irregular immigrants at Safi Barracks.

Mr Callus admitted that what he had written had left a negative impact on him, his family, and the Nationalist Party.

"My apology was not accepted and I am therefore resigning from the Safi council with immediate effect," he wrote.

"The more I reflect about it, the more I realise that what I wrote doesn't represent what I truly believe - when calmly, and with the principles I embrace, I try to draw out the logical consequences and political strategies."

When contacted, Mr Callus confirmed he had not resigned from the Nationalist Party, but from the local council. He had no further comments.

PN general secretary Joe Saliba said he believed Mr Callus had been honest enough to admit his mistake and even condemned his own actions, and he saw no reason why the former councillor should be "crucified".

"I make a distinction between Mr Callus who has repented, and (former Labour Party local council candidate) Joe Meli who confessed that he is still a fascist," he said yesterday.

Still, any decision regarding Mr Callus's future within the PN would be taken by a committee within the party, Mr Saliba said.