Oil and mining giants agree guidelines

The United States says several British and American oil and mining companies have agreed to voluntary guidelines for respecting human rights while protecting company operations in troubled areas.

Announcing this, the American Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, described the deal as a landmark for corporate responsibility.

The guidelines require companies to try to employ local people for their security staff and to consult local communities on the impact of their security arrangements.

Correspondents say the guidelines could prevent controversies like those associated with oil production in countries like Nigeria. The human rights organisation, Amnesty International, said the guidelines were encouraging but expressed concern about their voluntary nature.

The eight companies who have signed the initiative are oil companies Chevron, Texaco, Conoco, BP and Shell, and mining companies Freeport McMoran and Rio Tinto.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service