RIGHTS WATCHDOG CRITICIZES WEST.

In its annual report issued yesterday, the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch accuses western nations of putting profits before human rights. Citing Chechnya as one example, the group said that: "The most disturbing trend that we saw in the last year was that the major powers repeatedly deferred the immediate promotion of human rights in the name of often dubious long-term strategies… At the height of Russia’s renewed slaughter of civilians in Chechnya, the Council of Europe ignored its own human rights standards to admit Russia as a member, and the International Monetary Fund awarded Russia a $10 billion loan." (Reuters, December 4)

Russian Military Group Departs Cuba.