UN Human Rights Council back to work with US seats empty

The United Nations' Human Rights Council returned to business as usual Wednesday despite the US pulling out a day earlier. Russia blasted the American move, calling it "boorish" and saying the US "inflicted a powerful blow to its human rights reputation."

The UN's top rights body, based in Geneva, took up a discussion on summary executions and freedom of expression with the US seats unoccupied Wednesday.

The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, announced the pullout Tuesday, criticizing the council for "its chronic bias against Israel" and pointing out that it includes accused human rights abusers such as China, Cuba, Venezuela and Congo.