U.N. rights body ends scrutiny of Iran, Uzbekistan

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.N. rights body ends scrutiny of Iran, Uzbekistan
Mon 26 Mar 2007, 17:06 GMT

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GENEVA, March 26 (Reuters) - The United Nations top human rights body
voted on Monday to end routine scrutiny of Iran and Uzbekistan despite
accusations of abuse in both countries.

The 47-state Human Rights Council accepted the recommendation of a
five-country working party, whose members included Zimbabwe, that
they be removed from the so-called 1503 procedure under which
accusations of violations are discussed in closed-door, confidential
sessions.

The decision had been widely expected because a majority of states
on the Council, launched last year to replace the discredited Human
Rights Commission, oppose the singling out of individual states for
special attention.

"We are very disappointed at the decision. We think that it is deeply
regrettable that the Council will not have the opportunity to consider
the human rights situation in those countries," a U.S. spokeswoman
said.

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Read more: http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL26651812.html