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Kofi warns US and world to respect rule of law
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned world leaders on Tuesday that international law was being "shamelessly disregarded" and cited the US abuse of prisoners in Iraq as an example of such violations. Speaking at the high-level session of the UN General Assembly, Annan said "no one was above the law" whether in Sudan, Iraq, Uganda, Russia or the Middle East. "Again and again, we see laws shamelessly disregarded — those that ordain respect for innocent life, for civilians, for the vulnerable — especially children," he said. In Iraq, he said civilians were massacred in cold blood, while relief workers, journalists and others were "taken hostage and put to death in the most barbarous fashion." "At the same time, we have seen Iraqi prisoners disgracefully abused," Annan said, referring to inmates in the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad who were photographed being brutalized by American soldiers. "Every nation that proclaims the rule of law at home must respect it abroad. And every nation that insists on it abroad must enforce it at home," he said. Annan spoke before US President George W. Bush during the opening day of the two-week session attended by 64 presidents, 25 prime ministers and 86 foreign ministers, including Iraq's new interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi.
Posted by: Fred 2004-09-22 |
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