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FACTBOX-Excerpts on African countries in US rights report
11 Mar 2008 19:36:11 GMT
 Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - The State Department on Tuesday released its annual assessment of human rights around the world. Below are some excerpts from countries in Africa.

ZIMBABWE:

Human rights reached a new low last year in Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe's government stepped up its assault on dissenters as well as ordinary citizens.

Over 8,000 instances of human rights abuse were recorded and at least 1,600 unlawful arrests and detentions. "The year 2007 was the worst year yet for human rights defenders in Zimbabwe," the report said.

Security forces harassed, beat and arbitrarily arrested people, and there were more reports of torture. "Victims reported beatings with whips and cables, suspension and electric shock," the State Department said.

SUDAN:

Sudan's human rights record remained "horrific," with the country's Darfur region sinking further into chaos. The government continued bombing villages there, and rebel groups splintered and stepped up attacks in a five-year-old war.

"Sudan's human rights record remained horrific, with continued reports of extrajudicial killings, torture, beatings, and rape by government security forces and their proxy militia in Darfur," the report said.

Humanitarian workers were among those killed. "According to the U.N., 13 human rights workers were killed, 59 were assaulted, 61 were arrested and detained, and 147 were kidnapped during the year," the report said.

SOMALIA:

Widespread human rights abuses resulted from fighting between Somalia's interim government and its Ethiopian military backers against an insurgency led by remnants of an Islamist group. Over 1,000 civilians were killed, and some 700,000 people were displaced, the State Department said.

Human rights abuses included unlawful and politically motivated killings; kidnapping, torture, rape and beatings; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; and arbitrary arrest and detention.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO:

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, the government's human rights record remained poor, press freedom declined, and official corruption remained "endemic," the report said.

In the east, "security forces and armed groups acted with impunity throughout the year, committing numerous serious abuses, including unlawful killings of civilians, extreme sexual violence, recruitment and use of child soldiers, and harassment of UN human rights monitors," it said.

ERITREA:

Authorities continued to commit numerous serious abuses in Eritrea. These included unlawful killing by security forces, and torture and beating of prisoners, some resulting in death. National service evaders were also arrested and tortured, and their family members were arrested, the report said. (Editing by Alan Elsner)


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