The UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, who came under international criticism after her trip to China, has indicated that she will not seek a second term in office.

Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday, she said she would be making a final report at the panel's 50th session, which is currently underway, as her tenure as High Commissioner draws to a close.

Bachelet did not give any reasons.

After her statement, surprised murmurs spread in the Geneva boardroom.

Some diplomats said they expected UN Secretary-General António Guterres' confidante to remain in the post beyond her term of office, which ends this year.

The 70-year-old former President of Chile traveled to China in May and visited the Xinjiang region, among other things.

In the opinion of civil rights organizations and some Western governments, however, she was much too cautious in formulating criticism of China's handling of human rights and in particular of the Muslim Uyghur minority living in Xinjiang.

Commentators accused her of absorbing propaganda from China's government.

For years, the People's Republic has been confronted with allegations of systematically oppressing the Uyghurs in Xinjiang and using them as forced laborers.

Only recently, several international media reported jointly on massive human rights violations, arbitrary detention, torture and the existence of a shoot-to-kill order.

China denies the allegations.