Judge holds up US pledge ruling

A judge in California has delayed implementation of a ruling that the wording of the US Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional.

The judge, Alfred Goodwin, caused a nationwide shockwave on Wednesday when he upheld an appeal by an atheist parent who objected to the phrase "one nation under God" in the pledge, which is recited every day by American schoolchildren.

The judge ruled that the phrase violated the separation of church from state.

President Bush described the ruling as ridiculous.

The judge has now decided to refer the matter to other appeal judges on the same federal court circuit, which covers nine western American states.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service