NEW YORK (AP) — Several Muslim leaders in New York City say they've declined invitations to the mayor's annual year-end interfaith breakfast because they're upset about police efforts to infiltrate mosques and spy on Muslim neighborhoods.
The imams and activists say in a letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg they're disturbed at his response to a series of stories by The Associated Press detailing New York Police Department intelligence-gathering programs that monitored Muslim groups, businesses and houses of worship. The mayor has defended the police department.
Bloomberg spokesman Stu Loeser (LOH'-zur) acknowledged Wednesday about a dozen people turned down the breakfast invitation. But he says "a couple dozen" more say they plan to attend.
The Muslim leaders say they appreciate the mayor's staunch support a year ago during an uproar over a planned Islamic center near ground zero.
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