Neighbourwatch

UN urges China to lead by example' on human rightsBEIJING: Urging China to set an example on human rights, UN rights chief Mary Robinson...

UN urges China to lead by example8217; on human rights

BEIJING: Urging China to set an example on human rights, UN rights chief Mary Robinson told Chinese president Jiang Zemin that protecting civil liberties was as important as economic development. In a meeting capping Robinson8217;s 10-day, path-breaking China mission, Jiang argued that providing food and shelter for 1.2 billion Chinese was his primary concern, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Robinson emphasised the importance of human rights, not just for peace and security, but also for economic development, her spokesman Jose Diaz recounted after the nearly 90-minute meeting. The UN high commissioner for human rights told Jiang, given China8217;s size and influence, it could serve as an example to the rest of the world on human rights, Diaz said.

Protest over Sunni leader8217;s murder

ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of militant Sunni Muslims, many wielding sticks and burning tires or piles of newspaper, staged demonstrations in Pakistan today,blaming rival Shiites and Iran for murdering one of their key leaders. Umer Farooq, a young protester, accused predominantly Shiite Iran for murder of Shoaib Nadeem, deputy secretary general of the militant Sipah-e-Sahaba Guardians of the friends of the Prophet. Nadeem and three others, including a bodyguard and a driver, were gunned down by unknown assailants yesterday near Islamabad.

30-month war8217; claims 326 in Nepal

KATHMANDU: Over 326 persons have been killed in the 30-month-old Maoists 8220;people8217;s war8221; in rural hill areas of Nepal, an evening Nepali language daily has reported. The newspaper Mahanagar, quoting data prepared by human rights organisations, said yesterday Maoists during the period killed 92 policemen and mainstream political party workers. The Maoists has been waging the 8220;people8217;s war8221; with a number of objectives including the overthrow of the monarchy and establishment of a republic.

D-8 summit put off indefinitely

DHAKA: The second summit of the Developing eightD-8 countries which was scheduled to take place in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka in November has been put off indefinitely because of the prolonged floods in the country, a report said today. The state-owned Bangladesh news agency BSS quoted foreign ministry officials as saying the summit had been shelved to save funds for carrying out relief work for the millions of people made homeless in the worst deluge to strike the country in many decades. The postponement was the result of an austerity programme launched by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to cope with the aftermath of the floods.