Prince Zeid al Hussein of Jordan, a veteran diplomat and campaigner for international justice, will become the first UN human rights chief from the Muslim and Arab worlds following his unanimous election by the UN General Assembly.

The 193-member world body burst into applause yesterday when assembly President John Ashe banged his gavel signifying approval by consensus of the prince's nomination to the UN's top human rights job by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. 

Zeid, who is currently Jordan's UN ambassador, praised current UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay of South Africa "for her courageous endeavors" and pledged "to build on her noteworthy achievements." 

His four-year term in the post which was created by the General Assembly in 1993, will begin on Sept 1