China claimed a thorough investigation should be made into the abuses of Iraqi prisoners by US and British military personnel, and those responsible should be punished according to laws, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman Tuesday.  

Spokesman Liu Jianchao said the abuses are violations of the Geneva Conventions and other international conventions. The United States and Britain should abide by these international conventions and protect the basic human rights of Iraqi prisoners, he said.

Liu said abuses of prisoners run against both the international laws and the internal laws of relevant countries. The handling of the case should be based on a thorough investigation.

He said the abuses of Iraqi prisoners show that violations of human rights may take any forms in any countries and any regions. Therefore, protection of human rights is a common task for the entire human race and all countries in the world.

China claims that human rights issues should be handled through dialogues, instead of confrontations, in a bid to increase understanding and diminish differences, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2004)