United Nations: The Bush administration suffered a set back when a United Nations committee dashed its hope for a quick broad global ban on all human cloning including research on stem cells.

By a razor thin margin of 80 votes to 79 with 15 abstentions, the General Assembly's legal committee decided to postpone any UN action until Sept 2005 despite intensive lobbying by the US and anti-abortion groups who flooded the United Nations with literature and photos of foetuses.

All member states were in favour of banning research on human cloning that is producing babies by cloning but divisions emerged when Washington insisted that the treaty should ban even therapeutic cloning.

Scientists say that stem cells obtained from embryos could help find cure for several debilitating diseases. Besides, the research raises the possibility of growing various organs for the people who require them, as it is possible to turn stem cells into any tissue of the body.

Following strong division on the issue, Iran moved a resolution for delay on behalf of 57-member group of Organisation of Islamic Conference, arguing that the world body needed more time to discuss the issue and reach a consensus. India was among the member states that voted for the Iranian proposal for delay.

The US and its allies wanted the committee to adopt a resolution, which would have called for immediate drafting of the treaty to ban all types of cloning including for medical research.

PTI