China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Cuba have all won seats on the United Nations Human Rights Council.<br /><br />Their admission to the UN’s top rights body has been criticised by some groups who contest the new members’ poor human rights records at home.<br /><br />Fourteen positions on the 47-seat council were up for election – among others to be elected for three-year terms were Algeria, Britain, France, and Mexico.<br /><br />One critic said of the election of Russia: “it was like electing a pyromaniac as chief of the fire department.”<br /><br />Outside UN headquarters in New York there was a small protest against China’s policy on Tibet as the vote took place.<br /><br />Western countries accused China last month of arresting activists, curbing internet use and suppressing ethnic minorities as its rights record was reviewed.
