CLINTON WARNS THE MIDDLE EAST AGAINST RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE AND VIOLENCE

WASHINGTON (NNN-KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned the Middle East against "trading one form of repression for another" following the State Department's report of growing religious intolerance and violence.

Clinton urged countries to embrace the freedom to worship for all faiths, as they embrace political pluralism for the first time in generations.

"In the Middle East and North Africa, the transitions to democracy have inspired the world but they have also exposed ethnic and religious minorities to new dangers," Clinton told reporters as she unveiled the State Department's annual International Religious Freedom Report here Tuesday.

"People have been killed by their own neighbours because of their ethnicity or faith. In other places we have seen governments stand by while sectarian violence inflamed by religious animosities tears communities apart.

"The people of the region have taken exciting first steps toward democracy, but if they hope to consolidate their gains they cannot trade one form of repression for another," she said.

Since the beginning of the year, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya have all ousted long-time authoritarian rulers and pledged to move to democracies. Rebellions are also under way in Syria and Yemen. 

The US has publicly expressed concern over post-revolt sectarian violence and the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities in Egypt and Libya. It has also condemned attacks on religious minorities in Syria as the government continues a months-long brutal crackdown on opponents.

In addition to highlighting concerns in those countries, the report also took aim at abuses of religious freedom in China, Myanmar, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Sudan and Uzbekistan, a list unchanged since 2009, as "countries of particular concern" regarding religious freedom.

Ten other countries were cited for failing to sufficiently protect religious rights: Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Clinton praised Turkey for taking "serious steps to improve the climate for religious tolerance" with a decree in August that invited non-Muslims to reclaim churches and synagogues that were confiscated 75 years ago. -- NNN-KUNA