Powell won't attend anti-racism conference

US Defence Secretary Colin Powell has decided to boycott a UN conference on racism because the meeting has been urged to criticise Israeli discrimination against the Palestinians.

The eight-day conference begins in Durban in South African on Friday and, although Powell himself will not attend, the US is expected to send a delegation.

US authorities had expressed anger over the wording of a document due to be approved by delegates at the meeting and several other developed countries had opposed efforts to compel them to apologise for colonialism and slavery.