Iraqi rights abuses condemned

The Iraqi people suffer "all-pervasive oppression"

The United Nations has strongly condemned Iraq for its "systematic, widespread and extremely grave violations" of human rights.

The UN Commission on Human Rights adopted a European Union-sponsored resolution criticising Baghdad's "all-pervasive repression and oppression sustained by broad-based discrimination and widespread terror".

Thirty-two of the 53 Commission members voted in favour of the motion, with the remainder - including China and Russia - abstaining.

The resolution also condemned Iraq's widespread and arbitrary use of the death penalty and its suppression of freedom of expression.

Afghan abuses

A vote on Chechnya has been postponed until next week

The Commission also passed a resolution on what it said were massacres and widespread human rights violations in Afghanistan.

A resolution adopted without a vote criticised abuses against civilians and forcible displacements, particularly of women and children.

It expressed concern over continued fighting between the ruling Taliban and opposition forces, and called for negotiations to achieve an immediate ceasefire.

A EU motion expressing concern at allegations of abuses by both sides in the Chechen conflict has been delayed for a week to allow further time for negotiations to achieve a statement by consensus, short of a resolution.