THE UNITED STATESWILL NOT RUN FOR A SEAT ON THE NEW U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, U.S. OFFICIALS SAID ON THURSDAY. THE DECISION DREW EXPRESSIONS OF OUTRAGE FROM MEMBERS OF THE U.S. CONGRESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERTS, SOME OF WHOM SAID U.S. ABUSES AT ABU GHRAIB PRISON IN IRAQ AND TREATMENT OF ANTI-TERROR WAR DETAINEES AT GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, CUBA, MAY HAVE MADE IT HARD FOR WASHINGTON TO WIN ELECTION. 'IT'S A QUESTION MORE OF TACTICS THAN PRINCIPLE. THE PRINCIPLE IS WE WANT TO SUPPORT AN EFFECTIVE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL. THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO RUN FOR A SEAT ON IT,' ONE SENIOR U.S. OFFICIAL TOLD REUTERS. HE ADDED THAT THE UNITED STATES BELIEVES MANY GOOD CANDIDATES HAVE ALREADY PUT THEIR NAMES FORWARD FOR THE MAY 9 ELECTION AND 'WE'LL PROBABLY RUN FOR A SEAT LATER ON.' 'THIS DECISION IS NOT A REFLECTION ON OUR WILLINGNESS OR UNWILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL BUT HOW WE CAN WE BEST PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE,' HE SAID. --SP 23 41 LOCAL TIME 20 41 GMT
