US blocked Iran candidate election on UN climate body

The United States government lobbied the head of the UN climate panel to block the appointment of an Iranian scientist to a key position, saying it would be problematic, leaked US diplomatic cables show.

The revelations come amid a major UN climate change meeting in Cancun where negotiators are trying to work out a modest climate change deal after the 2009 Copenhagen summit ended in a brief non-binding pact. (Reuters)