Syrian plans to run for a spot on the UN Human Rights Council met with sharp criticism from the United States and Israel on Thursday, while Tehran announced it had withdrawn its candidacy for the world body's rights watchdog. The General Assembly's annual elections for the United Nations' 47-nation, Geneva-based human rights body will be held in November in New York. There will be 14 seats available for the five UN regional groups for three-year terms beginning in January 2014.From the so-called Asia group, which includes the Middle East and Asia, seven countries -- China, Iran, Jordan, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Vietnam -- will be vying for four seats.
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US Ambassador to the United Nations Rosemary DiCarlo said neither Syria nor Iran belonged on the UN rights council.
"Attempts by either country to join the Human Rights Council are highly inappropriate given existing Human Rights Council mandates to investigate human rights violations in these countries, their egregious records on human rights, and their on-going collaboration to suppress the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people," DiCarlo said.
Ambassador Ron Prosor of Israel echoed DiCarlo's views.
"This might be a new world record for lunacy at the United Nations," Prosor said. He said having countries like Iran and Syria on the right council would be like "putting the Godfather in charge of a witness-protection programme."