That's comforting...
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who is seeking to improve ties with the West, says his government would sign an international treaty banning torture. He also said "normal criminal law procedure" should replace current "revolutionary court" law and Libya should play a "leading international role in defending human rights". Addressing lawyers and judges, he praised Amnesty International and other human rights groups for attacking the use of torture by governments -- without saying if he included his own. "We deeply regret these fascist actions practised by governments across the world against citizens and foreigners," he said on the use of torture, in remarks reported by state news agency Jana on Sunday. In its 2003 report on Libya Amnesty said: "Reports of torture continued to be received; no investigations were known to have been carried out. Legislation remained in force criminalising non-violent political activities and providing for unfair trials." Amnesty said torture remained common in detention centres and said relatives were told dozens of prisoners had died in prison, but were not informed of the cause of death. |