LANDOVER (USA), Jan 20: US President George Bush said on Monday that America had made progress on civil rights but “there’s still prejudice holding people back” as he marked the holiday honouring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Bush and his wife Laura attended a rousing service at the First Baptist Church of the Glenarden community in suburban Washington, replete with gospel hymns and organ music.

Bush, who just days ago angered many black community leaders by challenging the use of race in a university admissions programme, got a standing ovation when introduced, as did his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice.

King led the struggle against segregation in America until he was assassinated in 1968.

“It is fitting that we honour this great American in a church because out of the church comes the notion of equality and justice. And even though progress has been made, there is more to do,” Bush told the largely African-American congregation.

“There are still people in our society who hurt. There’s still prejudice holding people back. There is still a school system that doesn’t elevate every child so they can learn,” he said.

Bush and his Republicans have some work to do to repair relations with the African-American community after a controversy surrounding former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott.

Lott, a Mississippi Republican, was forced to resign as majority leader late last year after saying the country would have been better off if segregationist candidate Strom Thurmond had won the 1948 presidential election.

Bush last week upset many civil rights leaders by having his administration submit to the Supreme Court a legal challenge to the University of Michigan’s policy of using racial preferences in admitting students.

Bush said the school’s policy was “divisive, unfair and impossible to square with the Constitution.” Secretary of State Colin Powell said he disagreed with Bush but understood why he issued the challenge.

First Baptist Church pastor John Jenkins, in a fiery testimonial about King and his legacy, made no reference to the controversy but called on African-American children to take advantage of educational opportunities.—Reuters