By SHEILA HARDWELL BYRD : Associated Press Writer Dec 22, 2002 : 3:40 pm ET

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Sen. Trent Lott, in his first public remarks since resigning as Senate Republican leader, said Sunday that had fallen into a "trap" set by his political enemies and had "only myself to blame."

Lott became the focus of a raging controversy for his remarks praising Strom Thurmond's 1948 segregationist run for president.

Asked in an interview with The Associated Press whether he was disappointed in a lack of support from President Bush in keeping his post, Lott said:

"I don't think there's any use in trying to say I'm disappointed in anybody or anything. An inappropriate remark brought this down on my head."

However, he said there were those who had been gunning for his resignation.

"There are some people in Washington who have been trying to nail me for a long time," Lott said. "When you're from Mississippi and you're a conservative and you're a Christian, there are a lot of people that don't like that. I fell into their trap and so I have only myself to blame."

He wouldn't say who those political enemies were.

Talking outside his home here, Lott again said his comments at Sen. Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party were not malicious and he repeated his pledge to turn the experience into positive action as he finishes his term in the Senate.

"I feel very strongly about my faith. God has put this burden on me, I believe he'll show me a way to turn it into a good," Lott said.

He also said he regretted the comments reflecting poorly on his home state, which has tried for years to overcome a bleak record on race relations.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2002