Louise Arbour, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, said on Friday she would step down at the end of June after a single four-year term but denied that criticism of her forthright stance had influenced her decision not to seek reappointment.

Human rights groups praised the achievements of Ms Arbour, a former Canadian Supreme Court judge and chief UN war crimes prosecutor, in speaking out against abuses and winning more resources for strengthening human rights protection around the world.