UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan yesterday endorsed scientific studies that involve the cloning of human embryos, differing with the Bush administration's push for a treaty to ban such research.
Mr Annan expressed his view as a UN committee opened two days of hearings on plans for the drafting of a global treaty on cloning, amid signs of ebbing support for the US stance. All UN members basically agree on a pact that would ban the cloning of human beings, an idea first proposed in 2001.
But treaty writers have since been tied up in knots over a push by the US and Costa Rica to expand the treaty to ban both the cloning of humans and the cloning of human embryos for stem cell or similar research, known as "therapeutic cloning".
"Obviously it is an issue for the member-states to decide, but as an individual, and in my personal view, I think I would go for therapeutic cloning," Mr Annan told reporters.
The stem cell controversy has become an issue in the US election campaign, with President Bush opposing government funding for any research involving human embryos, and his opponent, Sen John Kerry backing embryonic stem cell studies. US opinion polls show strong public backing for stem cell research. The cause has been spotlighted by the recent death of "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve, an ardent supporter.