Reuters: EU hits China for human rights abuses at U.N. talks [Excerpt]

GENEVA, April 1 (Reuters) - The European Union on Tuesday expressed concern at China's "extensive use" of the death penalty and said that torture, arbitrary arrests and religious repression were widespread.

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It followed the U.S. State Department's annual human rights report on Monday, which accused China of violations including summary executions, torture, forced confessions, suppressing political dissent and denying religious freedom.

But the New York-based group Human Rights Watch criticized both powers for their apparent unwillingness to present a resolution criticizing China, seemingly because of its backing for the international campaign against terrorism.

The 53-member state forum is now mid-way through its annual six-week session in Geneva.

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But the EU remained troubled by "the extensive use of the death penalty, the continuation of the 'strike-hard' campaign, the widespread use of torture and arbitrary detention, including the practice of 're-education through labour'," Kriekoukis said.

Other EU concerns in China were: "repression of the freedom of expression, religion and association with the ongoing violations of the human rights of pro-democracy, labour and Internet activists, proponents of free trade unions and followers of underground Christian churches and the Falun Gong".

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