US forced me out of UN job, says Robinson

OUTGOING United Nations human rights chief Mary Robinson says she was ready to stay at her post to face mounting threats to rights around the world, but Washington wanted her out of the job.

The outspoken Mrs Robinson, who makes way for Brazilian United Nations veteran Sergio Vieira de Mello in September, said yesterday that things had changed since she told UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in early 2001 that she wanted to stay for just one more year.

“It has become much more difficult for human rights. I am not somebody to just walk away,” she said.