Burma is rejecting a U.S. human rights report that condemns the military-run country's rights record.
The official "New Light of Myanmar" quoted Burma's Foreign Ministry today as saying that the report carries a number of unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations of human rights violations that are aimed at smearing the country's image.
On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department released its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2006. In it, Washington categorized Burma, as well as countries including North Korea, China and Russia, as some of the world's worst human
rights offenders.
The report accused Burma of using executions, rape, torture, random detentions, and forced relocation of entire villages, particularly of ethnic minorities, to maintain its grip on power.
The U.S report also says that surveillance of political activists continues in Burma and notes that 11,00 political prisoners remain behind bars.
Information for this report is provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
