LOS ANGELES, Sept 24: Officials at a US Christian college have launched an investigation after a cardboard effigy of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was hung from a tree, a statement said on Wednesday.

George Fox University, in Newberg, Oregon, said in a statement on its website that the cut-out of Obama was found hanging from a tree on campus on Tuesday morning before being removed by staff.

A sign reading “Act Six reject” was taped to the cut-out. “Act Six” is a scholarship program run by the college granted to 10 student leaders from urban Portland. Most of the students currently benefiting from the program are ethnic minorities, the statement said.

“We will not tolerate such displays and condemn it in the strongest terms,” the statement said.

The people responsible for the incident have not been identified, the statement added, but authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward.—AFP