The UN High Commissioner for Human rights has urged the US to bring to justice those held responsible for human rights abuse and torture.

Navi Pillay called on Washington on Thursday to launch a probe into the rendition sites used by the US to transfer terrorist suspects and to ensure that those involved in the abuse of detainees are prosecuted for violating the global ban on torture.

She described the US appointment to the 47-member forum as a "welcome step in restoring international trust in US support for human rights".

"Although much more needs to be done, President Obama's determination to resolve the untenable situation of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, ban CIA prisons and implement the prohibition on torture in compliance with international standards is highly welcome," the former UN war crimes judge said.

Within days after the election of the US to the UN rights panel, President Barack Obama reversed a decision to release photos of torture scenes at US military prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan, citing fears that the pictures could endanger US troops.

President Obama has also been considering transferring Guantanamo inmates onto US soil and indefinitely keeping them under surveillance without trial.

This is while the UN human rights Commissioner has pledged to convince the US to "shed light into the still opaque areas that surround capture, interrogation methods, rendition and detention conditions of those alleged to have been involved in terrorism, and ensure that perpetrators of torture and abuse are held to account."

The US has long blocked UN resolutions against Israel in spite of the severe violations of international human rights laws by Tel Aviv and its atrocities against Palestinians.