United Nations: India has been re-elected to the 53-member United Nations Commission on Human Rights from the Asian group for a three-year term, getting maximum number of 47 votes in a secret ballot.

Others elected from group in the first round included Saudi Arabia with 45 votes, Qatar (44 votes), Bhutan (39 votes) and Nepal (39 votes).

While securing the highest number of votes, India improved its record of 42 votes in 2000 when Saudi Arabia had polled 48 votes.

Thailand, which polled 29 votes, was eliminated in the first round itself. But Indonesia and Iran were tied with 33 votes each. That necessitated a second round in which Jakarta got 31 votes defeating Tehran, which could manage only 23 votes.

North Korea, Cambodia and Vietnam, who were also candidates for the Asian seats, withdrew before from the race.

Britain, Italy and the Netherlands won from among western nations in the secret ballot in which Portugal was eliminated.

Among those re-elected was Russia from East European States without any opposition. Hungary also got elected from the region.

Egypt, South Africa, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Mauritania were elected from the African group without contest.

PTI