Party official apologizes for swastika

KOGE, Denmark, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- A Danish political party leader said the appearance of a swastika in an advertisment was unintentional and she apologized.

Anne Nielsen, chairwoman of a local association of the Dansk Folkeparti, said the swastika in the party's logo in a weekend advertisement in the Lordagsavisen Koge newspaper was the result her mistakenly downloading an altered version of the logo when creating the ad, The Copenhagen Post reported Monday.

"It is a deeply regrettable mistake for which I apologize," Nielsen said. "Mistakes happen. If I could do it again differently, I would. I should have been more vigilant. I'm really sorry."

The advertisement highlighted a meeting involving Morten Messerschmidt, the party's member of the European Parliament. Messerschmidt drew criticism in 2007 when he allegedly gave a Nazi salute while in a Tivoli bar.