AFP: US criticises China over human rights record [Excerpt]

WASHINGTON, March 31 (AFP) - The United States on Monday accused China's communist leaders of presiding over a "poor" human rights record, but highlighted several isolated areas where repression had eased slightly.

In its annual human rights report, the State Department also noted concerns that Beijing would try to exploit the US anti-terror campaign as a ruse to crack down on [dissidents].

China's "human rights record throughout the year remained poor, and the government continued to commit numerous and serious abuses," the report said.

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"Authorities were quick to suppress religious, political, and social groups, as well as individuals, that they perceived to be a threat to government power or to national stability.

"Citizens who sought to express openly dissenting political and religious views continued to face repression."

The report was issued as attention is focused on China's record at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, amid speculation over whether the United States will this year sponsor a resolution critical of Beijing.

Some observers believe that US officials, keen to enlist China's help to ease the North Korea nuclear crisis and the anti-terror campaign, will drop its usual practice of seeking such a resolution this year.

"We have not made a decision on that," said Secretary of State Colin Powell as he unveiled the report.

"As we have said to the Chinese, we have seen some slippage over the past year and it is of concern to us."

The report castigated Chinese authorities for abuses of human rights suffered by prisoners and for a lack of basic legal safeguards inside the country's legal system.

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The report also expressed concern about a national "strike hard" campaign against crime, characterized by round-ups of suspects who it said were sometimes sentenced in sports arenas in front of thousands of spectators.

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http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/bf/Qus-rights-china.RQj2_DMV.html