11/05/2011 10:38
Syria 'pulls out' of race for UN rights council spot – UN
Syria has dropped plans to run for a position on the United Nations Human Rights Council and will be replaced by Kuwait, UN diplomats say.
Damascus has come under increasing pressure to pull out of the race following its crackdown on pro-democracy protests, BBC reports.
But there has been no official confirmation of the move.
Hundreds of civilians have been killed in the unrest in Syria which began in mid-March, human rights groups say.