The federal capital territory minister has ruffled some senators' feathers

Appearing before the senators and a full public gallery, the minister for Abuja begged their forgiveness.

Last week the senate went on a two-day strike, demanding President Olusegun Obasanjo sack the outspoken minister for his remarks.

Mr El-Rufai has an uneasy relationship with the senate - last year he accused two senators of asking him for a bribe.

Remorse

"I did not mean what I said. I certainly did not mean to refer to the senators [as fools]. The statement is inappropriate. I made a mistake and I am sorry," Mr El-Rufai said on Wednesday.

According to the BBC's Mannir Dan Ali, who watched the proceedings, the minister read from a prepared statement.

The senate president asked the minister to elaborate on his apology, and in the end Mr El-Rufai expressed his remorse five times.

The senators have not yet responded, but two previous apologies by both the president and Mr El-Rufai have been rejected.

The minister for the federal state territory is one of President Obasanjo's most controversial appointments.

He has been criticised for ordering the demolition of illegal structures in Abuja, as well as dismissing hundreds of workers in his ministry.

Members of the senate's public accounts committee have been sharply critical of the minister's performance, claiming he paid exorbitant salaries to staff without proper approval and that he should reimburse the state.

Mr El-Rufai hit back, saying: "Silence is the best answer to a fool".

In October last year, Mr El-Rufai told a senate corruption investigation that two leading senators asked him to pay $414,000 for them to confirm his appointment.