Robinson in parting shot at US over human rights

OUTGOING UN human rights chief Mary Robinson last night fired a parting shot at the United States on the eve of the September 11 anniversary.

The former Irish president said many countries had used the suicide plane hijackings that killed more than 3,000 people as a pretext for new security laws which violated international human rights norms.

She added the US had a duty to set high standards because others used its lapses as an excuse for abuse.