U.N. approves communique at troubled race conference

Delegates at a United Nations conference shunned by the United States adopted on Tuesday an anti-racism declaration as they sought to shake off the impact of a walk-out triggered by remarks by Iran's president.

U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington condemned as "appalling and objectionable" comments by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday calling Israel a "totally racist government," remarks U.N. officials also called "unacceptable."

The text adopted on Tuesday, which "reaffirms" a contentious 2001 document that refers six times to Israel and the Middle East, was adopted by consensus and without debate at a public session, well before the end of the week-long meeting.