United Nations: A majority of the world's nations voted in a UN committee to signal support for abolishing executions.

The 105-48 vote in the UN General Assembly's human rights committee was the second year in a row nations have urged a global moratorium on the death penalty.

As last year, about 30 nations abstained, and the United States took the step of siding with countries such as Iran, China and Syria in opposing the resolution -- and against its usual European allies and Israel.

US President George W Bush's administration has in the past mainly left it to other nations to voice criticism of the resolution.

Yesterday's vote marked slightly more support from the final 104-54 vote in the plenary of the General Assembly last December, with one more vote in support and fewer opposed.

The General Assembly will hold a final vote on the measure and the committee's vote is almost certain to be closely replicated there. Though not legally binding, the voting carries moral weight coming from the 192-nation world body.

The resolution has been spearheaded by Italy and supported by the Vatican, a leading opponent of capital punishment. Also leading the campaign has been the European Union, which requires its 27 members to outlaw capital punishment.

Italian Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant Agata said the committee's vote confirms a global trend since it "shows the growing support among the (UN) membership on an issue to which Italy and its European partners attach a great deal of importance."

Source : PTI