Apology over deadly force abortion call

A REPUBLICAN candidate in New England has backed down after suggesting he would use “deadly force” to stop doctors carrying out an abortion.

Frank Szabo, who is running for sheriff in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, said he had “let his imagination get out of control”.

He had earlier threatened to crack down on legal abortion with arrests, prosecutions, and direct action targeting doctors.

“Deadly force is always a last resort,” Mr Szabo told TV station WMUR on Wednesday. “Why would anyone object to the use of deadly force to prevent the murder of an unborn human?”

Facing criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, and after his comments spread via social media, Mr Szabo retracted his remarks yesterday.

“I made several comments about the use of deadly force against abortion doctors that I regret, that I apologise for and that I fully retract,” he said.

His heated rhetoric came at a time when the Republican Party is already dealing with fall-out from comments by Todd Akin, candidate for the Senate from Missouri, suggesting that women rarely get pregnant from “legitimate” rape.

Responding to Mr Szabo’s comments Kevin Smith, Republican candidate for New Hampshire governor, said on Twitter that there was “no place” for Mr Szabo’s “dangerous” views.