Japan loses second key vote at global whaling group

FRIGATE BAY, St. Kitts and Nevis, June 16 (Reuters) Japan lost a second crucial vote today at a meeting of the International Whaling Commission, calming fears it might have finally won a majority at the body and could begin to chip away at a global whaling ban.

Japan's proposal to bring in secret ballots so that small Pacific and Caribbean countries could back its pro-whaling stance without criticism from environmentalists was defeated by 30 votes to 33, with one abstention.

REUTERS DH RAI0106