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afrol News, 10 September - African governments earlier this year nominated Libya as the continent's chair of the next United Nations Commission on Human Rights. The nomination has caused outrage in many Western countries, while the Libyan government claims it is "suited to chair the Commission." One month ago, the US group Human Rights Watch (HRW) cried out on the African nomination of Libya to the important UN body. The group highlighted Libya's "long record of human rights abuses and obstructive approach to the Commission," and argued that its nomination ran counter to the new commitments African leaders had made to promote human rights and good governance through the New African Partnership for Development (Nepad). The group's release generated a wave of interest from a variety of news organisations, including the BBC, the Associated Press and afrol News. Questions were raised by the parliamentary opposition in the UK, and a US State Department spokesperson expressed Washington's concern. These reactions again story elicited a response from the Libyan Foreign Ministry, saying that Libya was suited to chair the Commission as "one of the nations that is experiencing a stable human rights environment, and the proof for that is the political and economic security and stability." HRW now responds publicly that security and stability "are no proof of respect for human rights - indeed, they are often code words for repression - and again called on African leaders to reconsider Libya's nomination." Libyan authorities had recently released sixty-five "political prisoners" one week ahead of the thirty-third anniversary Muammar Khaddafi's seizure of power, but experts estimate that hundreds more remain in prison, the US group says. HRW reminds that "over the last decade, Libya has detained government opponents for years without charge or trial, prohibited the formation of political parties or independent non-governmental groups, and muzzled its press. In the past, the Libyan government has also been responsible for torture, 'disappearances' and the assassination of political opponents abroad." HRW had sent letters to Presidents Mbeki of South Africa, Obasanjo of Nigeria, and Wade of Senegal - who form part of the Nepad steering committee - calling for the withdrawal of Libya's nomination and the proposal of another African country with a positive record on human rights. So far, they have not received an answer. Africa is due to chair the next session of the UN commission on a rotational basis, and Libya was nominated by the African regional group. Libya's nomination was confirmed at the recently concluded inaugural summit of the new African Union. The new chair of the Commission will be elected in early 2003.
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