Minister blasts British 'pigs'

Latvian Interior Minister Mareks Seglins has waded into the row over a Briton arrested for urinating on the Latvian Freedom Monument.

In an angry outburst, the minister described people desecrating the monument as "pigs" and seemed to imply that the description could be extended to the whole population of England.

Speaking to journalists in the wake of the court verdict against Londoner Shirzey Heshmat, the 38-year-old minister said, according to the Leta news agency: "Cūkas tie angļi... Viena sušķīga, cūcīga tauta!"

Various translations have been offered across news outlets reporting his outburst, varying from: "These English are pigs... a nation of filthy pigs!" to the slightly less inflammatory "English people who do this... [are] a bunch of dirty swine!"

Considering Seglins' senior position within government, his remarks seem at best undiplomatic, however justified his anger might be over the disrespectful attitude shown by some foreign visitors.

34-year-old Shirzey Heshmat from London was given a five-day custodial sentence on Feb 19 after being found guilty of urinating on the Riga landmark after a boozy night out.

Heshmat is the first person to be locked up for the offence. Previous offenders have usually been given a fine.