The US embassy has confirmed that an American involved in a road rage incident in Sliema was a member of its staff.

The incident was recorded on video footage which went viral.

"“The US Embassy can confirm that the subject of this video was an embassy employee who has since departed,” the embassy said in a statement.

Times of Malta yesterday indicated that the man was a member of the staff but the embassy had initially refused to confirm or deny.

The unidentified US citizen’s road rage became the subject of shock and ridicule as the video of the event went viral on social media last weekend.

The American left his car and launched a torrent of insults and vulgarities at a motorist as both refused to give way in a narrow street in Sliema. The American eventually reversed his vehicle as the tailback behind the Maltese driver's car grew.

More details on Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com premium.

The video can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5q3acDm-rw It contains foul language.