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17 mostly pro-whaling nations have no vote

Demonstrators hold signs at a rally calling on President Barack Obama not to overturn a band on commercial whaling, in Washington on April 22, 2010. This event was part of the Earth Day Networks' celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. UPI/Kevin Dietsch
Demonstrators hold signs at a rally calling on President Barack Obama not to overturn a band on commercial whaling, in Washington on April 22, 2010. This event was part of the Earth Day Networks' celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

AGADIR, Morocco, June 22 (UPI) -- The International Whaling Commission meeting in Morocco has suspended the voting rights of 17 mostly pro-whaling nations, officials said Tuesday.

The move is seen as a blow to Japan which is hoping the commission will allow it to resume commercial whaling for the first time in 24 years, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports.

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The commission's deputy chairman Anthony Liverpool says about one-fifth of the 88 member states will not be allowed to vote for a variety of reasons, including failing to pay their annual fees.

Delegates to the Agadir meeting have been trying to break a deadlock over a controversial proposal to allow Japan to resume limited commercial whaling in exchange for a reduction in its scientific whaling program in the Southern Ocean.

With so many pro-whaling nations unable to vote, the anti-whaling bloc is hopeful it can prevent the 24-year ban on commercial whaling from being overturned.

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