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Senate's Top Democrat Splits With Obama On Ground Zero Mosque


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
The top Democrat in the U.S. Senate has publicly disagreed with President Barack Obama over plans to build a mosque near the site of the September 11 terror attacks in New York City.

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada said that although the U.S. Constitution protects religious freedom, he believes the mosque should be built "somewhere else."

Critics of the plan to build an Islamic community center and mosque two blocks from Ground Zero say the developers are being insensitive to the families of victims who died in the attack, which was carried out by Islamic extremists.

On August 13, Obama said the mosque would honor the victims because it represents the American value of freedom of religion.

compiled from agency reports

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