International organisations including the UN and African Union, politicians and ordinary Africans and Caribbeans are outraged over US President Donald Trump's latest racist remarks.
The president criticised immigration to his country from El Salvador, Haiti and the African continent, by calling the group "shithole countries", according to the US media.
"Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" Trump asked at a meeting with congress members, reports said on Thursday, citing people with knowledge on the conversation.
Trump suggested the US should instead focus its immigrant entry policy on countries such as Norway; the president met with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Wednesday.
Rupert Colville, spokesman of the UN human rights office, said: "You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as shitholes ... I'm sorry, but there's no other word one can use but racist."
Colville said the story wasn't "just a story about vulgar language, it's about opening the door to humanity's worst side".
The African Union said it was "frankly alarmed".
"Given the historical reality of how many Africans arrived in the United States as slaves, this statement flies in the face of all accepted behaviour and practice," said AU spokeswoman Ebba Kalondo.
South Africa's ruling ANC party said Trump's comments were "extremely offensive", with a spokeswoman saying the party would never deign to make such derogatory remarks.
Morocco-based Africa analyst Adama Gaye told Al Jazeera: "Trump has shown a continuous display of racism towards Africa [and people from poor nations]."
Commenting on the invitation to Norwegians, Washington, DC-based political analyst Bill Schneider told Al Jazeera: "That's the racist element. Norwegians are white, they're northern Europeans. He was referring earlier, in his vulgar comment, to [people of] African descent.
"These are racist comments. He has said things like this before when he talked about Nigerians who won't go back to live in huts and he talked about Haitians who bring AIDS to the United States. These are all confirmations of what a lot of people have long suspected - that he harbours racism."
Following the publication of the media reports, the White House issued a statement in which it did not directly challenge the authenticity of the comments.
"Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people," the White House said.
Trump denied the racist remarks, tweeting on Friday that the language he used "was tough, but this was not the language used", as he called for a "merit-based system of immigration and people who take our country to the next level".
The development came as the US president also came under fire for rejecting an invite to open a new US embassy in London.
Many took to social media to condemn the president, including members of his own Republican party.
Republican politician Mia Love, who is of Haitian descent, said: "The president's comments are unkind, divisive, elitist and fly in the face of our nation's values."
Democratic State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry said on Twitter: "I have to first express how demoralising & upsetting it is to have to register my outrage again and again over hateful remarks made by my own president."
She then posted a statement saying: "I'm very disappointed in us, the people of the United States, who saw fit to elect an ignorant, mean-spirited, white supremacist to the most powerful office in the world."
Writer Wajahat Ali said in a tweet: "In just 11 days, Trump has insulted Pakistan, a country of 200 million, Haiti (11 million), El Salvador (6 million), the entire continent of Africa (which is not a country & has 1.2 billion) & millions of Americans. So, about 1.5 billion people. 20% of the world. Week isn't over."
In just 11 days, Trump has insulted Pakistan, a country of 200 million, Haiti (11 million), El Salvador (6 million), the ENTIRE CONTINENT OF AFRICA (which is not a country & has 1.2 billion) & millions of Americans. So, about 1.5 billion people. 20% of the world. Week isn't over.
A Twitter user, apparently from in Haiti, posted the photos of natural beauty in his country, calling Trump a #ShitHolePresident!"
Hey #ShitHolePresident ! Here is what my #shithole looks like #shitholegate
Journalist Jacqueline Charles followed the suit, posting an apparent view in Haiti. She wrote: "Who knew I had been going to a shithole all of these years."
Twitter user Ryan Knight suggested that Republicans insist on claiming Trump is not a racist, although his actions prove them wrong.
Republicans: Donald Trump is not racist.
Donald Trump: Haiti, El Salvador and African countries are “shithole countries.”
Republicans: Donald Trump is not racist.
Any questions America?#VoteBlue2018
Meanwhile, a Norwegian - @Shkurten - publicly rejected Trump's offer to move to the US, saying: "I live in Norway and would never move to USA. We have health care, free higher education, 5 weeks vacation, 8 hours work a day. No thanks Trump."
Trump apparently wants more Norwegians and fewer people from ”shithole” countries in Africa. You know what’s a real shithole? Trump’s goddamned mouth.
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