Human Rights lays out U.S. wish list

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The next U.S. president should make human rights a central part of his foreign policy agenda, Human Rights Watch said Thursday.

In a call that was harshly critical of the administration of President George W. Bush, the group laid out a four-pronged agenda for either Democratic nominee Barack Obama or Republican John McCain. Other points included making sure that anti-terrorism efforts comply with international law, becoming part of the "international human rights community" and ensuring that the United States respects human rights in its domestic policy.

The report includes a long list of specific recommendations, like closing down the Guantanamo Bay detention center and trying suspected terrorists in federal courts instead of before military tribunals.

Under Bush, the United States has supported governments in countries like Ethiopia and Colombia that violate the rights of their own citizens, HRW said. The United States has no coherent policy towards China and Russia, the group said.