UN drops China human rights resolution; U.S. says move 'unfortunate'

GENEVA (AFX) - The UN Human Rights Commission has dropped a U.S. -sponsored draft resolution condemning China's human rights record, officials  said.       Twenty-three of the 53 Commission members approved a procedural motion  introduced by China to prevent the critical resolution being aired at the UN  forum.      Seventeen countries, including the European Union countries and the U.S.,  rejected the so-called 'no action motion'. Twelve nations abstained from the  vote and one was absent.      China has successfully used the loophole to stop hostile resolutions  about its human rights record being introduced at the UN Commission every  year since 1989, with one exception in 1995.       China denounced the U.S. resolution as "devoid of factual grounds" and  being "full of absurdities" and said its call for a no action motion was  "appropriate and fully justified."      The U.S. draft resolution condemned human rights restrictions in China,  including on citizens rights to freedom of association, assembly, expression,  religion and a fair trial.      It also voiced concern at "increasingly severe measures" against  followers of movements such as China's outlawed spiritual Falungong movement  and restrictions on the activities of Buddhists, Muslims and Christians.      In response, the U.S. said the UN's decision is unfortunate and urged  China to do something about its human rights record.      "We think its unfortunate that more members of the Human Rights  Commission didn't choose to take up the China resolution at the commission  this year," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.      "We once again urge China to respond to the concerns raised about its  human rights situation during the commission session and to move quickly to  bring its human rights practices into compliance with its obligations under  international human rights instruments," he said.

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