Gays 'Yes' vote cheers UN Aids conference

Cheers went up in the corridors of United Nations headquarters after a majority of countries voted to retain Aids conference credentials for the San Franscisco-based International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

Several Muslim countries, led by Egypt, tried to have the group’s credentials revoked, complaining that the commission offended morals.

Egypt has led protests against language in a conference draft document that specifically names vulnerable groups in need of protection, including homosexuals.

Scott Long, programme director at the commission, said: "This was an incredible victory for the UN as a place that’s inclusive but I’m absolutely appalled that a third of the members of the UN were willing to kick out a group because they didn’t want to hear the words 'gay' and 'lesbian'."

The more than two-hour debate overnight in the General Assembly chamber in New York ended in a vote of 62 in favour, none opposed, and 30 abstentions.

Crowds of delegates, barred from the chamber, gathered in UN corridors to watch the often acrimonious debate on TV monitors.

When the result was announced by council president Harri Holkeri, wild cheering and applause erupted in the usually tranquil UN corridors.

The adoption of the amendment to the conference resolution added the name of Karyn Kaplan of the commission to the list of civil society delegates who will participate in a round-table conference session today on "HIV/Aids and human rights".