A candidate for governor in Atlanta, Georgia has been arrested for allegedly threatening singer Elton John.

Neal Horsley, 65, an anti-abortion campaigner, has been arrested and charged with terror threats, criminal defamation and using the Internet to make the threats.

The arrest came after Mr Horsley published a document on his WeChooseLife website, entitled: "Why Elton John Must Die."

He also protested outside Elton John's Atlanta apartment, holding a poster saying: "Elton John Must Die."

It is believed the Horsley posting went up after Elton John, who lives part-time in Atlanta, created a controversy in an interview by saying that he thought Jesus was a "compassionate, superintelligent gay man who understood human problems.”

In his posting, Horsley retorted: “What Elton John has done is desecrate the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

He added if John, 62, had been a Muslim, making similar comments, he would have had a death sentence placed on him.

Mr Horsely is now on bail.