URBAN, South Africa, Sept. 7 — Negotiators at the United Nations conference on racism remained deadlocked tonight over the issues of the Middle East and slavery despite a new offer from European diplomats that edged ever so slightly toward an apology for their countries' past involvement in slavery and colonialism.
Although the conference was to have ended today, diplomats vowed to continue negotiating through the night in an attempt to reach consensus on the final declarations.
The European Union agreed to call on nations to take actions "restoring the dignity" of the descendants of slaves, noting that some countries had already done so by "expressing remorse or presenting apologies."
But the European diplomats would not agree to language condemning slavery and the slave trade as a "crime against humanity," rejecting a key demand of African nations. They also refused to condemn Israel by name for its treatment of the Palestinians, rejecting a key demand of Arab nations.
And after hours of haggling, the leader of the European delegation here, Louis Michel, finally conceded tonight that his negotiators had been unable to broker a deal.
"There is still a chance to make a success," Mr. Michel, the Belgian foreign minister, said at a news conference. "I can also say to you that it will be very difficult. The European Union will make all the effort to make this a success. But we'll not be, of course, prisoners of principles that are not our principles."
His statement came toward the end of a day when hopes soared and sank as rumors swirled about possible bids to break the impasse. The European offer came this afternoon, when Mr. Michel presented African diplomats with new language for the proposed conference declaration.
The Europeans have refused to apologize explicitly for slavery and colonialism, and said describing slavery and the slave trade as a "crime against humanity" might leave them open to lawsuits.
In today's proposal, the Europeans said they would "acknowledge and profoundly regret the massive human suffering and the tragic plight of millions" harmed by slavery and colonialism. And they used the word "apologies" in an effort to mollify some African leaders.
"The World Conference further notes that some have taken the initiative of regretting or expressing remorse or presenting apologies, and calls on all those who have not yet contributed to restoring the dignity of the victims to find appropriate ways to do so, and to this end we appreciate those countries that have done so," the European Union proposal states.
A senior South African official said the language concerning an apology would be acceptable as long as Europe agreed to condemn slavery as a crime against humanity. But it soon became clear today that neither the Europeans nor the Africans were willing to budge on that point.
"They cannot deny the slave trade was a crime against humanity," Patrick Chinamasa, Zimbabwe's justice minister, said as he stepped out of the negotiating room tonight. He added that the question of reparations was also still a major problem.
"They are more worried about their wallets than moral issues," he said.
On the Middle East question, the Europeans have agreed to a South African proposal that expresses concern about "the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation," but eliminates any description of Israel as a racist state. The European statement also recognizes the rights of refugees to return to their homes and properties, an idea that is strenuously rejected by Israel.
But Arab officials have rejected that proposal, saying they want Israel to be condemned as a racist state.
"They obviously want something stronger, but I don't think it's possible to get something stronger," a European diplomat said.
The prospects for a breakthrough seemed so bleak at times today that even Mary Robinson, the United Nations commissioner for human rights and the conference's secretary general, was publicly downcast.
"I don't expect that we will be very excited about the language that might be adopted," Mrs. Robinson said in a meeting with advocacy groups. "The achievement will be to get an agreement."
