In an acrimonious debate, rich nations who pay most of the United Nations budget warned poorer nations yesterday not to stand in the way of UN management reform, and hinted at a showdown that could plunge the world body into a cash crisis.

The latest proposal for a new Human Rights Council calls on the UN General Assembly to elect a 45-nation body taking into account a country’s human rights record – but rights groups warn that offending nations could still gain membership.