A protestor holds a copy of a controversial cartoon published on New York Post in front of the New York Post office in New York, the United States, on Feb. 20, 2009. Nearly 1,000 protestors gathered in front of the New York Post office to protest against a controversial cartoon published in the newspaper's Wednesday edition alluding to the U.S. President Obama and racial discrimination. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) Photo Gallery>>>

    NEW YORK, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The New York Post issued an apology in Friday's paper to some readers offended by this week's controversial political cartoon, but it may not be enough to end the protests against the paper, according to a report available onwww.ny1.com. 

    In an editorial in Friday's paper, The Post apologized to readers who were offended by the image, which showed two police officers standing over a chimp's body. One of the officer says: "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."

    Critics have called the cartoon racist, saying it compares President Barack Obama to a chimpanzee.

A protestor holds a placard in front of the New York Post office in New York, the United States, on Feb. 20, 2009. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) Photo Gallery>>>

    The Post writes that the cartoon, "was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill."

    The editorial goes on to say: "However, there are some in the media and in public life who have had differences with The Post in the past -- and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback. To them, no apology is due. Sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon -- even as the opportunists seek to make it something else."

    Protestors rallied outside the paper's headquarters for a second day Thursday. Another rally is planned for Friday afternoon.

    In his latest statement, the Reverend Al Sharpton says it seems the Post wants to blame the offense on those who raised the issue, rather than take responsibility.

    State and local lawmakers first picketed outside the New York Post building on Wednesday in protest of the political cartoon they say is "blatantly racist." They called on the paper to apologize, and demanded it fire the cartoonist and the editor who approved it.

    Two hundred people once again picketed in front of the New York Post office on Thursday, protesting the controversial cartoon.

    The cartoon by Sean Delonas came out after a crazed chimpanzee was shot to death in Connecticut for violently attacking a friend of its owner.

    Soon after the issue hit newsstands, Sharpton -- and other black opinion makers like CNN's Roland Martin -- blasted the cartoon as an attack on U.S. President Barack Obama's skin color and African-Americans in general.

    "Being that the stimulus bill has been the first legislative victory of President Barack Obama and has become synonymous with him, it is not a reach to wonder: Are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill?" Sharpton said.

    However, the cartoonist called Sharpton's charges "ridiculous."

    In a previous statement, the Post says: "The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington's efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist."