CANBERRA, Nov 27 AAP - The government today backed away from supporting a Greens motion commending United States President Bill Clinton's stance on Tibet because it contained an implied criticism of Prime Minister John Howard for not speaking up for human rights.

The Senate motion, proposed by Tasmanian Greens Senator Bob Brown, applauded President Clinton for raising the issue of human rights with China's President Jiang Zemin at the APEC forum in Manila.

It was defeated 34-33 with indepedent Brian Harradine voting with the government.

Senator Brown attracted brief international fame during the President's visit to Canberra when he raised Tibet in an interjection during the President's address to Parliament.

President Clinton later told Senator Brown he would discuss human rights in Tibet with the Chinese leader.

Senator Brown said today this was embarrassing for the government as Government Senate Leader Robert Hill had later made it clear Mr Howard would not be raising this issue in Manila.

"At least President Clinton had the gumption to bring up the issue of human rights with the Chinese leader," he said. "At least President Clinton was prepared, when he spoke to me after the joint sitting last week, to give a commitment."

Senator Hill said the government opposed the motion because it was not a genuine attempt by Senator Brown to acknowledge the contribution of President Clinton to improving human rights in China.

"This is a trick motion," he said. "The trick is in the implication that President Clinton did something that Senator Brown believes our Prime Minister should have done."