UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters) – The United Nations on  Monday accredited a major gay and lesbian organization that  Egypt, Russia and others had tried to keep out as a group  permitted to lobby at the world body.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission,  a U.S.-based advocacy group, had applied for “consultative  status” at the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) three  years ago.

Last month, a U.N. committee that accredits nongovernmental  groups rejected the application after “no” votes from countries  including Egypt, Russia and China. Western diplomats vowed at  the time to override the committee vote.

The United States, Britain and other Western delegations  urged the full 54-nation ECOSOC to vote on the International  Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission’s application, which it  did on Monday.