Libya denounces Washington's criticism on human rights committee issue

Libya on Friday denounced American statements which expressed Washington's concern towards the possibility of Libya's presidency of the UN human rights committee for 2003.

The assistant secretary for media and the culture at the Libyan foreign ministry Hasounah al-Shawesh said that the American statements "are a result of a hostile stand ( aimed) at depriving the African Union to become a reality that can decide unanimously."

He added that the American statements also aim at "hiding the US bad record in the area of human rights," stressing that African decision to nominate Libya to preside over the committee "came unanimously and can not be backtracked, despite the lies and fabrications. It is an evidence on the remarkable role played by Libya in serving peace in the ( African) continent."