Five years after he called an Indian-American "macaca" or a monkey, triggering his defeat in
Senate elections in 2006, Republican politician George Allen has finally apologised.
"Sorry" by Allen, US media reported, is an attempt by him to win back his Virginia Senate seat, for which election is due in 2012.
The current occupant to this seat Senator Jim Webb from the Democratic party has announced that he would not seek reelection.
"You don't brood over mistakes. You learn from them and you improve," Allen told conservatives at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington.
"During my last campaign, I never should have singled out that young man working for my opponent, calling him a name. He was just doing his job.
"I was wrong to do that to him, and it diverted our campaign away from the real issues that families care about," Allen said referring to the use of word "macaca" against his Democratic rival's campaign volunteer S R Sidarth.
"Now learning all of this made me even more sensitive and more committed than ever to the principle of religious freedom and the dignity of every person, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or religious beliefs," he said.
"It reinforced my belief that when injustice — whether anti-Semitism, racism or repression — arises, leaders must deplore it. Otherwise people will think it's condoned or acceptable," he said.
"My family had to endure a lot of taunts and insults because of my mistake, and I never want to have them have to go through something like that again," Allen said.
"Ladies and gentleman, these last five years have given me the opportunity to reflect on all that's happening in our great country," he added.