The 104-54 vote for suspending executions is not legally binding
but represents a growing global trend against a punishment that many

countries say undermines human rights, is a questionable deterrent and

mistakenly has killed innocent people.

"There is no conclusive evidence of the death penalty's deterrence

value and that any miscarriage or failure of justice in the death

penalty's implementation is irreversible and irreparable," the

proponents said in the resolution adopted by the 192-nation assembly.

There were 29 abstentions.

Attempts in 1994 and 1999 to have the General Assembly adopt a

moratorium on the death penalty failed. But since then, the number of

countries that have abolished capital punishment in law or practice

has grown to 133, according to Amnesty International.

"Today's vote represents a bold step by the international

community," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. "This is further

evidence of a trend towards ultimately abolishing the death penalty."

The bad news is that the Bush administration voted along with Iran, Syria, Sudan and China among others against the resolution. What lovely company they keep.