By Agencies

US president referred to El Salvador, Haiti and Africa as 'shithole countries' in conversation about immigration.

International organisations including the UN and African Union, politicians and other 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 added 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.

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".

He later tweeted that he has "never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously a very poor and troubled country". 

'Extremely offensive': Countries mentioned react

The Haitian government said Trump's reported comments shows a "racist view of the Haitian community," the Associated Press said. 

Rene Civil, an activist in Haiti, said that Trump is "destabilising, a president who uses vulgar words, who is unacceptable". 

Civil added: "We [Haitians] demand that Donald Trump apologise [to] the entire African continent, as well as before Haiti, a country whose blood has been used by ancestors who have used their minds and bodies to liberate the United States itself from slavery". 

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 said: "Trump has shown a continuous display of racism towards Africa [and people from poor nations]."

Abdulsalam Kayode, a resident of the Nigerian capital city of Lagos, said that the US president's comments are "not unexpected from somebody of this nature [because] we already know this kind of person". 

Commenting on the invitation to Norwegians, Washington, DC-based political analyst Bill Schneider said: "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."

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."

Here is my statement on the President’s comments today: pic.twitter.com/EdtsFjc2zL

— Rep. Mia Love (@RepMiaLove) January 11, 2018

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."

I have to first express how demoralizing & upsetting it is to have to register my outrage again and again over hateful remarks made by my own president. #Haiti #MAPoli pic.twitter.com/h6gSjmg7I5

— Linda Dorcena Forry (@ldforry) January 12, 2018

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.

— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) January 12, 2018

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 pic.twitter.com/H0iAvI8CX1

— Harold Isaac (@haroldisaac) January 12, 2018

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."

Who knew I had been going to a #shithole all of these years. #Haiti pic.twitter.com/yuHAWoEmgd

— Jacqueline Charles (@Jacquiecharles) January 12, 2018

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."

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

— Tuti (@ShkurteN) January 11, 2018

Shannon Watts, an activist working to end gun violence, tweeted: "Trump's guide to diversity. Africa: Array of shithole countries. Haitians: Have AIDS. Nigerians: Live in huts. Puerto Ricans: Lazy. Black Americans: Ingrates. Mexicans: Criminals and rapists. Muslims: Evil terrorists. Women: Treat them like shit. White supremacists: VERY FINE PEOPLE."

Trump's guide to diversity

Africa: Array of shithole countries
Haitians: Have AIDS
Nigerians: Live in huts
Puerto Ricans: Lazy
Black Americans: Ingrates
Mexicans: Criminals and rapists
Muslims: Evil terrorists
Women: Treat them like shit

White supremacists: VERY FINE PEOPLE

— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) January 11, 2018