World powers snub racism conference due to Muslim demands

The US and at least seven other countries are boycotting the United Nations’ first global racism conference in eight years today, fearing demands to denounce Israel and ban criticism of Islam.

The administration of President Barack Obama, America’s first black head of state, announced on Saturday that it would boycott “with regret” the week-long meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, which is already experiencing much of the bickering and political infighting that marred the 2001 conference in Durban, South Africa.