UN rights body drops Cuba, Belarus from black list

GENEVA, June 18 (Reuters) The United Nations new human rights watchdog today agreed to drop Cuba and Belarus from a list of countries where the rights' records are put under special scrutiny.

In adopting its rules of operation, the 47-state Human Rights Council body kept nine states, including North Korea, Cambodia and Sudan, on the list of states warranting particular attention that it inherited from its predecessor, the Human Rights Commission.

The situation in the Palestinian territory will also continue to be the subject of special and regular reports.

REUTERS SBA BST0355