Climate change activist Greta Thunberg has apologised for any misunderstanding after saying politicians should be put “against the wall”.

The teenager has been touring the world rallying support for her green movement and calling for young people to hold their governments to account over their contribution to climate change.

However Greta caused anger and confusion at a rally in the Italian city of Turin on Friday after she told activists “World leaders are still trying to run away from their responsibilities but we have to make sure they cannot do that.

“We will make sure that we put them against the wall and they will have to do their job to protect our futures”.

The comment was quickly picked in right-wing circles which have frequently criticised the teenager, including far-right online publication Breitbart accused Greta of going “full Fidel-Castro”.

Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures In the protest that started a movement, Greta skips school to sit outside of the Swedish parliament in Stockholm in order to raise awareness of climate change on 28 August 2018 Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 25 January AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta stages a protest at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 25 January Reuters Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta speaks at the House of Commons in London on 23 April PA Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta addresses to the occupation at Marble Arch in London on 21 April AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta meets the pope on a visit to Rome Reuters Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta speaks at the senate in Rome on 18 April Reuters Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta addresses a debate of the EU Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 16 April AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta receives the Special Climate Protection Award at the German Film and Television awards in Berlin on 30 March AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta attends a children's climate protest in Berlin on 29 March AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta addresses a children's climate protest on 1 March in Hamburg Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta attends a meeting for the Civil Society For rEUnaissance at the EU Charlemagne Building in Brussels on 21 February AFP/Getty

However the 16-year-old said the matter was simply one of translation – and that she had muddled a Swedish term with English words to come up with a ‘Swenglish’ cross.

“Yesterday I said we must hold our leaders accountable and unfortunately said “put them against the wall”. She wrote on Twitter. “That’s Swenglish: “att ställa någon mot väggen” (to put someone against the wall) means to hold someone accountable.

“That’s what happens when you improvise speeches in a second language. But of course I apologise if anyone misunderstood this. I cannot enough express the fact that I - as well as the entire school strike movement- are against any possible form of violence.

“It goes without saying but I say it anyway”.

It comes as the activist looks to head home for a break from campaigning after travelling the world by boat and rail.

Greta, who refuses to fly, arrived in Turin by train from Madrid after attending the UN climate summit in the Spanish capital. Those talks were originally intended to take place in Chile, only to be relocated following the outbreak of protests in Santiago.