Flashback: Canadian P.M. Trudeau Says ‘Honor Killings Shouldn’t Be Called Barbaric’

Trudeau retracts 'barbaric' remarks (CBC News)

Liberal MP Justin Trudeau offered an apology and retraction Tuesday over comments he made about the description of honour killings as "barbaric" in a new citizenship guide.

The apology came shortly after the Montreal MP spent most of his morning trying to defend and explain his comments on the social media website Twitter.

"Perhaps I got tangled in semantic weeds in my comments, particularly in view of the Conservatives' cynicism on these issues," Trudeau said in a statement. "I want to make it clear that I think the acts described are heinous, barbaric acts that are totally unacceptable in our society."

The controversy around Trudeau started brewing on Monday when the MP, who is immigration critic for his party, was asked for reaction to the government's new citizenship guide released earlier in the day. The publication is used as the study guide for Canada's citizenship test.