Obama and McCain to pull adverts on September 11

Washington: Presidential contenders Barack Obama and John McCain plan to pull adverts on September 11 that criticise each other, a respite from the political fray to honour the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The campaigns made their decision known on the same day that a group backing community service on that day called on the candidates to refrain from partisan campaigning. The group, MyGoodDeed.org, wants September 11 to become a national day of voluntary service and asked that Obama and McCain perform acts of community service instead.

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said McCain did not plan to advertise at all on the anniversary. "Nine-eleven is not a day for politics," Rogers said.

The Obama campaign said it plans to stop airing anti-McCain commercials on September 11.

"We hope September 11th is a day when Americans come together and reaffirm our resolve to address the common challenges we face together," Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan said.

Both campaigns have been running tough ads against each other, with negative commercials outnumbering their positive spots.