Wednesday, May 10 2006 13:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: India, which has won the election to the newly established Human Rights Council of the United Nations, would serve on the body only for a year.

The Council members would have three year terms with one-third retiring each year. Since this was the first election, lots were drawn to decide which countries would retire at the end of first and second year.

In the Asian group, India along with Bahrain, Indonesia and the Philippines will retire at the end of the first year. Pakistan, Japan, Sri Lanka and South Korea will retire at the end of second year. Bangladesh, China, Jordan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia will serve full three-year term.

The vote yesterday in which the entire membership of the world body participated showed India securing 173 of the 191 votes. Also, India got far more votes than both Japan and China whose tally was 158 and 146 respectively.

In the African group, Algeria, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia will serve for one year, Gabon, Ghana, Mali and Zambia for two years and Cameroon, Djibout, Mauritius, Nigeria and Senegal full three-year term.

In the Eastern European group, Poland and Czech Republic will retire at the end of first year, Romania and Ukraine second year and Azerbaijan, Russia will serve full three year term.

In the Latin American & Caribbean group, Argentina and Ecuador will serve for one year, Brazil, Guatemala and Peru for two years and Cuba, Mexico and Uruguay for three years.

In Western European and Others group, Finland and Netherlands are slated to retire at the end of first year, Britain and France at the end of second year and Canada,Germany and Switzerland would serve for three years.