A posting on the Progressive Labour Party's official blog accused the Opposition leader of failing to condemn racist cartoons widely distributed by e-mail during the long election campaign. It was posted to the blog last Friday.

It was later amended to say Michael Dunkley "did not strongly condemn" the cartoons, but using a strike through method so readers could still see the original accusation.

The blog accused Michael Dunkley of producing "lying ads" and also stated: "Dunkley Never Condemned Vile, Racist Cartoons.

"UBP supporters compared the Premier to Hitler, Mussolini and Idi Amin. Michael Dunkley declined to condemn these vile, disgusting and racist attacks."

But Mr. Dunkley did condemn the e-mails, one of which compares the Premier to notorious dictators including Adolf Hitler.

Another image titled 'Absolut Corruption' shows the Premier, former Governor Sir John Vereker and Police Commissioner George Jackson squashed into an Absolut vodka bottle alongside several Government Ministers.

On November 30, Mr. Dunkley said of the cartoons: "We don't know who is behind this or who is putting them out there, but we do not accept them or tolerate them in any way.

"I want to be clear that we do not accept or condone this kind of behaviour and ask all individuals involved to join us on the high road."

When this was pointed out to the PLP chairman, David Burch, he said that the website would be changed to "clarify" their position.

The website was then changed to: "Dunkley Never Condemned Did Not Strongly Condemn Vile, Racist Cartoons. UBP supporters compared the Premier to Hitler, Mussolini and Idi Amin. Michael Dunkley declined to condemn never overtly condemned these vile, disgusting and racist attacks.

"Update: Per the linked post, Michael Dunkley said that the UBP didn't "accept," "tolerate" or "condone" the ads — however, he failed to outright condemn the ads.

On November 30, PLP Chairman David Burch called upon Michael Dunkley and Pat Gordon-Pamplin to join him in condemnation of the ads and to 'call for the UBP supporters who are creating these offensive attacks to both come out of the shadows and pledge to never again produce this kind of filth.'

"Michael Dunkley did not join David in this call."

The strike-through version of the posting remains up on the PLP's blog.