Amnesty criticises Pakistan and Sri Lanka

The human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has criticised last year's trial of the ousted Pakistani prime minister, Nawaz Sharif.

Amnesty's annual report said the process didn't fully meet the standards for a fair trial.

Amnesty also accused the Pakistani leader, General Musharraf, of paying lip service to human rights.

It said that human rights violations, including torture and deaths in custody, increased last year.

Amnesty also said minorities weren't given adequate protection and there was continued violence against women and children.

Amnesty also focused on Sri Lanka, saying that paramilitaries and vigilantes were becoming more active and civilians were increasingly the victims of gross human rights abuses.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service