US move lamented

UNITED NATIONS: UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres regretted the withdrawal of the United States from the world body’s Human Rights Council, his spokesperson said.

“The secretary-general would have much preferred for the United States to remain in the Human Rights Council,” said Stephane Dujarric.

The remarks came shortly after US permanent representative to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced the official withdrawal of the US. UN high commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein called the withdrawal “disappointing, if not really surprising. Given the state of human rights, the US should be stepping up, not back”. – Xinhua