U.S. owes $1.2 billion to UN

 The United States owes $1.2 billion (750 million pounds) to the United Nations, more than a quarter of the payments owed the world body by all member states, a senior U.N. official said on Thursday.

U.N. Undersecretary-General for Management Angela Kane told reporters that only 13 of the United Nations' 192 member states had paid in full as of Wednesday. The total arrears amounted to some $4.1 billion, up from $2.2 billion at the end of 2009, Kane said.

"It has been a difficult year in many ways for many member states because of the economic recession," she said.

The administration of President Barack Obama repaid all the money the United States owed the United Nations last year. U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice told reporters on Thursday that Washington pays its U.N. dues "in full and on time."

She said there was an issue of "contested arrears" -- debts that Washington does not agree it owes the United Nations.