The United States was reelected uncontested Monday to the seat it lost on the United Nations Human Rights Commission last year.
The United States, together with Australia, Germany and Ireland, was elected to the seats on the commission reserved for members of the West European group of nation after Italy and Spain pulled out the running and cleared the way for Washington's candidacy.
Last year, the United States scored 29 out of 54 votes, the lowest among five candidates for the four seats, and was voted off the commission for the first time since the commission was established in 1946.
The defeat soured US-UN relations, caused an outcry in Washington, and led to intensive behind-the-scenes lobbying by the Bush administration to get back on the Geneva-based panel.
It is up to each geographical group of nations to decide which countries are candidates for the Human Rights Commission.
(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2002)
