A politician in Mississippi has apologised for saying those who removed Confederate monuments in neigbouring Louisiana should be lynched.

Karl Oliver, a Republican state representative, said in a Facebook post that the destruction of monuments was "heinous and horrific" and accused the Louisiana state officials responsible of acting in a Nazi-like fashion.

He wrote: "The destruction of these monuments, erected in the loving memory of our family and fellow Southern Americans, is both heinous and horrific.

"If the, and I use this term extremely loosely, 'leadership' of Louisiana wishes to, in a Nazi-ish fashion, burn books or destroy historical monuments of OUR HISTORY, they should be LYNCHED!"

The comments were made after three Confederate monuments and a monument to white supremacy were removed in New Orleans.

Mr Oliver later deleted the post and issued a statement apologising.

He said: "In an effort to express my passion for preserving all historical monuments, I acknowledge the word 'lynched' was wrong. I am very sorry.

"It is in no way, ever, an appropriate term. I deeply regret that I chose this word, and I do not condone the actions I referenced, nor do I believe them in my heart. I freely admit my choice of words was horribly wrong, and I humbly ask your forgiveness."