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03/17/2006:

"U.S. Votes Against U.N. Human Rights Council"

UNITED NATIONS -- The U.S. stood nearly alone today as it voted against the creation of a new U.N. Human Rights Council, saying the reform did not go far enough in keeping abusers off the panel.

However, U.S. officials did not carry through on a threat to block the new body's funding, and pledged to work with other nations to make the council "as strong as it can be."

Jan Eliasson, president of the General Assembly called the vote "a historic moment for human rights" as 170 member-states backed the new council. Israel, the Marshall Islands and Palau joined the U.S. in voting against, while Iran, Venezuela and Belarus abstained.

After the applause faded in the General Assembly hall, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said that the assembled diplomats had missed an historic opportunity to help those most in need.
latimes.com