Poland suspends honorary consul over image of Tusk

Poland has decided to suspend from duty an honorary consul in Ohio of the U.S., after she allegedly posted a controversial photo of European Council President Donald Tusk, Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported on Sunday.

"It is very good that such a decision has been made, because the matter is very complex and serious," Maria Szonert-Binienda, the honorary consul, said at a forum in the Polish city of Torun.

"I have never done any photomontage, and the one which triggered the storm was not uploaded by me. I emphasize again that my social media profile account was hacked, and I do not possess one on Twitter," she said.

"I have nothing to do with the photomontage of Mr Donald Tusk in SS uniform," she said, referring to the digitally-altered photo showing Tusk dressed as a Nazi German SS officer.

On Saturday afternoon, Szonert-Binienda had said that her social media profile had been hacked.

Also on Saturday, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo expressed her hope that the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs would "act quick in the case".

Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, had bitter relations with the current Polish government, led by the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party under its leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski.