Pakistan, Sept. 20 -- The United Nations General Assembly voted on Thursday to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the annual gathering of world leaders next week via video - for the second year in a row - after the United States again denied him a visa to travel to New York.

The resolution received 152 votes in favor and three votes against, while four countries abstained. It also allows Abbas and any other high-level Palestinian officials to take part in UN UNmeetings or conferences via video over the next year if they are prevented from traveling to the United States.

The US said last year that Abbas and about 80 other Palestinians would be affected by its decision to deny and revoke visas from members of the umbrell...