UN telecom chief 'surprised' by US-led treaty snub

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? The head of the U.N. telecoms group says he was surprised by a U.S.-led rejection of a global treaty because of perceptions it will lead to greater government control of the Internet.

Hamadoun Toure says the accord that's to be signed on Friday doesn't include specific provisions for Net oversight. Instead, he says it sets goals such as expanding online services to developing countries.

But a U.S.-led Western bloc opposed any references to the Internet, fearing this could be used to justify further Web crackdowns by authoritarian states.

More than 20 countries joined the U.S. late Thursday is refusing to sign the protocols by the U.N.'s International Telecommunications Union meeting in Dubai.

Toure says he thought the talks reached a compromise and was "very much surprised" by the U.S.-led snub.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/un-telecom-chief-surprised-us-led-treaty-snub-110120544--finance.html

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