Dermot Walsh (Irish Examiner letters, May 17) seems to miss the fact that the Israeli state has been systematically oppressing and denying basic human rights to Palestinians since its formation.

A report on Indonesia’s 24-year occupation of East Timor blames over 100,000 deaths and massive human rights violations including starvation and the use of napalm primarily on Indonesian security forces, Timorese officials said today.

Mounting political pressure to speed up the trial of Saddam Hussein threatens the independence of the Iraqi special court trying the case, international observers have warned.

American officials say Iraqi leaders will have to curb their enthusiasm for a quick trial of Saddam Hussein – and a possible summer execution.