US, Israel withdraw from Durban conference

The US secretary of State Colin Powell has withdrawn the US delegation from the UN conference against racism, currently held in Durban, south Africa.

News reports quoted Powell as demanding in a statement read by the official in charge of the American delegation, taking part in the anti- racism and racial discrimination conference to return back to the US.

For his part, the Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres announced that Israel has decided to withdraw its delegation from Durban conference because it was exposed to strong criticism from delegations taking part in the conference.