NEW YORK. June 19: Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has offered apologies for keeping Muslim women wearing headscarves out of a key shot at his Detroit rally despite invitations.

The two Muslim women wearing hijab (headscarves) told news media on Wednesday that the volunteer who stopped them cited political atmosphere in the country while barring their seating on the podium.

Hebba Aref said that she and Shimaa Abdelfadeel were among 20,000 supporters who had gathered to see Mr Obama.

The volunteer “explained to me that because of the political climate and what’s going on in the world and what’s going on with Muslim Americans it’s not good for her to be seen on TV or associated with Obama,” Koussan, who is a law student at Wayne State University was quoted by a newspaper.

A spokesman for Obama said such actions were “not the policy of the campaign.”“It is offensive and counter to Obama’s commitment to bring Americans together and simply not the kind of campaign we run. We sincerely apologise for this behavior,” the statement read.