SWANSEA-BASED AM Peter Black has apologised to the Welsh Education Minister Leighton Andrews after labelling him a "cretin" in a row on Twitter.
The Lib Dem member for South Wales West made the remark during an attack on a leaflet supporting further Assembly powers, produced by Yes For Wales, which is co-ordinated by Mr Andrews.
Mr Black, who is also a Swansea councillor, later said his remark was "in the heat of the moment and inappropriate".
Mr Black also wrote on his blog that there was a danger the Yes campaign would turn into a "crusade" against the Conservative-Lib Dem UK coalition government, but Mr Andrews pointed out that the Yes For Wales leaflet had been approved by Mr Black's colleagues.
Following an apology, Mr Andrews said that Mr Black's "language was an absolute disgrace, and your apology should be far more widely shared".
He added: "I understand that Peter Black has now publicly apologised for his comments and I will leave it at that."
Mr Black said: "I apologised for calling him a cretin, but I haven't apologised for the other comments because I believe the leaflet was ill-advised."
But Mr Black said he did not think it was "anyone's interests to have further disagreements" and they should be working in the interests of Wales.
This is not the first time Mr Black's internet activities have hit the headlines.
In September 2008, he came under fire for using a video portraying Plaid as Nazis on his personal blogsite.
The video featured a scene from the movie Downfall, which charts the fall of the Third Reich.
It features subtitles relating to Plaid's election defeat in Caernarfon.
He said: "It was only there for an hour or so and I am sorry if any offence was caused."
A referendum will be held on further powers for the Assembly on March 3 next year.
alex.brown@swwmedia.co.uk
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