UN rights chief to step down

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Source: AFP

GENEVA (AFP) — UN human rights high commissioner Louise Arbour said Friday she will leave the high profile job after four years of fending off attacks by developing countries for criticising their rights record.

"It is very much for personal reasons. I'm not prepared to make this commitment for another four years," Arbour said in Geneva where she presented her annual report to the UN Human Rights Council.

The Canadian lawyer's mandate ends in June and Arbour said she has told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that she will not seek a second term.

Ban paid glowing tribute to Arbour on Friday, noting that "she has never hesitated to incur the criticism of states or other entities by highlighting the victims of abuses".

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