145;China failed to keep its promises146;

China has failed to honour its Olympic-related human rights promises as a sharp increase in violations of the rights of free expression and association has been witnessed ahead of the Games.

The run-up to the Beijing Olympics has been marred by a surge in human rights abuses, a leading international rights watchdog said on Wednesday in a report.

China and the International Olympic Committee IOC 8220;have had seven years to deliver on their pledges that these Games would further human rights,8221; said Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy Director for Human Rights Watch.