[Excerpt]
The editor of a UN survey of freedom and governance in Arab societies says the US has impeded its publication.
Nader Fergani said the US objected to sections of the document on Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He said it had been threatening to cut its contribution to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
A US spokesman denied that his country had asked for a postponement of publication. The UNDP said reports of threats to its funding were inaccurate.
But Mr Fergani – who also says the Egyptians have objected to the report’s assessment of political freedom in Egypt – believes the report will not come out under the UNDP logo.
The Arab scholars who prepared it are meeting in Beirut next week to discuss publishing it under their own names.
“My understanding is that the UNDP will not publish it under its logo, but they will not prevent it from being published under the names of the authors,” said Mr Fergani.
“It seems that the pressure that was put on the UNDP was too heavy to bear.”
Here’s a link to their previous reports, which according to the BBC‘s Heba Saleh, are much-acclaimed.