LONDON, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Diane Abbott, the first black woman in the British Parliament, has apologized for a Twitter comment about whites' tendency to "divide and rule."
Abbott, the Labor Party's shadow health minister, made the apology Thursday after a telephone conversation with the party leader, Ed Miliband, The Daily Telegraph reported.
"I understand people have interpreted my comments as making generalizations about white people. I do not believe in doing that," she said in a statement released by the party office. "I apologize for any offense caused."
Abbott made the comments during a Twitter exchange with Bim Adewunmi, a freelance journalist who criticized coverage of the Stephen Lawrence racial killing trial. Adewunmi said she did not like the use of the term "black community" and said some black leaders are out of touch.
"White people love playing 'divide & rule.' We should not play their game," she said in one comment.
Conservative and Liberal Democratic leaders lashed out at her. Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister and Lib Dem party leader, called her comment a "stupid and crass generalization."
Nadhim Zahawi, a Conservative MP, in his own Twitter comment said Abbott should "apologize and resign."
