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United States criticizes U.N. conference

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The United States has joined Canada in saying it will boycott April's U.N. conference on racism because the draft document singles out Israel for censure.

The conference's current document condemns Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands, said a U.S. State Department official, adding the United States would consider attending if the document were revised.

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The document also recommends restrictions on the defamation of religions, which the Obama administration said could undercut free speech, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

The conference is to review progress on a declaration from the World Summit Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in South Africa in 2001. The United States walked out of that conference citing the agenda's bias against Israel.

U.N. officials have said President Barack Obama's election as the first African-American president presents the United States with an opportunity to inspire other minorities at the conference, the Post reported.

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