WASHINGTON -- The International Whaling Commission voted on Friday to deny Japan's request to host the group's next meeting amid continued threats of sanctions by the United States against Japan's whaling program.

Nicky Grandy, secretary of the IWC in London, said the international body voted 17-10 by letter to hold the next meeting on Feb. 6-8 in Monaco instead, rejecting a rival bid by the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture.

Normally, the commission meets only once a year. The extra meeting in February is to discuss "the inspection and observation scheme that would have to be put into place if commercial whaling was ever allowed again," she said.