In 2001, Orr hailed the Mexico City Policy that restricts non-governmental organizations who receive American tax dollars from providing or promoting abortion services.

It stipulated that health care and education provision ought to be free of charge, and that the state could restrict media and religious organizations within the island.

A 28-month-old emergency decree has granted Government ministers arbitrary powers to detain individuals and to restrict anti-apartheid organizations, workers and newspapers.

Also, in an effort to counter assertions that the bill would promote the commercialization of surrogate motherhood, the sponsors are proposing an amendment that would restrict organizations that receive payment for arranging surrogacy contracts to nonprofit groups.

Ms. Rice had been diplomatic the night before when a reporter asked her whether it was incongruous that Russia, which passed a law restricting nongovernmental organizations, was a host of a democracy conference in Jordan.

In a report on the elections, Amnesty said laws restricting non-government organizations, police breaking up demonstrations, and harassment from critics were all part of "a systematic destruction of civil liberties in Russia."

It would restrict nonprofit organizations with budgets of more than $3 million from using even their own money to engage in "political advocacy."

The tax code restricts churches and other charitable organizations from engaging in partisan politics, although church leaders can speak about social issues and register voters.

The White House travel office has restricted organizations like The Weekly Standard and Esquire magazines and the national television network of Chile from participating in official White House trips.