Mideast: Amnesty accuses both sides

The human rights group Amnesty International has called on Israelis and Palestinians to respect fundamental human rights -- despite the conflict raging between them.

A document issued at the end of a tour of the region by the organisation's Secretary General, Pierre Sane, urged both sides to refrain from extra-judicial killings, attacks on civilians and torture.

Amnesty described Israel's blockade of Palestinian areas as a grave human rights violation and said Palestinian refugees must be granted the right to return to their old homes on land that is now in Israel.

It also urged the Palestinian Authority to drop the death penalty and to make trials fairer. Mr Sane said he had talks during the weekend with the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, but that Israeli ministers had turned down requests for meetings.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service