Annan Warns U.S., World to Respect Rule of Law
Tue Sep 21,10:54 AM ET
By Evelyn Leopold
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) warned world leaders on Tuesday that international law was being "shamelessly disregarded" and cited the U.S. abuse of prisoners in Iraq (news - web sites) as an example of such violations.
Reuters Photo

Speaking at the high-level session of the U.N. General Assembly, Annan said "no one was above the law" whether in Sudan, Iraq, Uganda, Russia or the Middle East.
"Again and again, we see laws shamelessly disregarded -- those that ordain respect for innocent life, for civilians, for the vulnerable -- especially children," he said.
In Iraq, he said civilians were massacred in cold blood, while relief workers, journalists and others were "taken hostage and put to death in the most barbarous fashion."
"At the same time, we have seen Iraqi prisoners disgracefully abused," Annan said, referring to inmates in the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad who were photographed being brutalized by American soldiers.
"Every nation that proclaims the rule of law at home must respect it abroad. And every nation that insists on it abroad must enforce it at home," he said.
Annan spoke before President Bush (news - web sites) during the opening day of the two-week session attended by 64 presidents, 25 prime ministers and 86 foreign ministers, including Iraq's new interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi.
The secretary-general said in a BBC interview last week the U.S.-led war in Iraq was "illegal" because it did not get U.N. Security Council approval, although he said his office was now doing what it could to help rebuild the country.
On Tuesday, he said it was the law, "including Security Council resolutions, which offers the best foundation for resolving prolonged conflicts -- in the Middle East, in Iraq, and around the world."
Annan urged nations to sign treaties on the protection of civilians and to strengthen and implement disarmament pacts, some of which, like a nuclear test ban treaty, the Bush administration has disowned.
'WAITING FOR US TO KEEP OUR WORD'
Among the most flagrant violations of law as well as basic human decency, Annan cited Sudan's Darfur region where militia have displaced populations and "rape is used as a deliberate strategy." He spoke of northern Uganda where the Lord's Resistance Army has mutilated and kidnapped children.
He also mentioned Beslan in Russia's North Ossetia province, where schoolchildren were taken hostage this month and "brutally massacred."
Annan, had previously called on Russia to respect the rule of law while fighting Chechen rebels, who said they carried out the Beslan attack. In his speech, he said "at times even the necessary fight against terrorism itself is allowed to encroach unnecessarily on civil liberties."
In the Middle East, Annan said children were deliberately targeted by Palestinian suicide bombers, and Israel destroyed and seized Palestinian lands and caused needless civilian casualties by the excessive use of force.
"All over the world we see people being prepared for further such acts, through hate propaganda directed against Jews, against Muslims, against anyone who can be identified as different from one's own group," Annan said.
Annan recalled that the United Nations (news - web sites) was founded 59 years ago on the ashes of a war "that shocked" mankind.
"Throughout the world, the victims of violence and injustice are waiting -- waiting for us to keep our word," Annan said. "They notice when laws that should protect them are not applied."