HOUSTON (AP) - Barack Obama's controversial former pastor has canceled plans to speak at three services at a Houston church on Sunday, citing safety concerns.

The pastor of the Houston church says Reverend Jeremiah Wright cited personal and family safety concerns, as well as the security of the church where he was scheduled to speak.

Wright also canceled a scheduled Tuesday appearance in Florida at the request of a Tampa-area church that invited him.

Wright's sermons have included him accusing the U.S. government of inventing AIDS to destroy "people of color" and suggesting U.S. policies were partly responsible for Nine-Eleven.

In a speech last week, Obama sharply condemned Wright's remarks but the Democratic presidential hopeful refused to repudiate his old pastor.


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