UK
Daily Mail
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Pope Benedict XVI criticised George Bush as he declared states
had to set ethical limits in what they do to protect their citizens
from terrorism.
He also suggested some countries had flouted humanitarian law
in recent wars.
International human rights groups have criticised the U.S. over
its treatment of terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay and the practice
of 'rendition', or flying terror suspects to third countries for
interrogation.
Although the Pope did not identify any specific countries, Vatican
sources made it clear he was referring to the U.S. particularly.
The Pope made his comments in an annual message for the Roman
Catholic Church's World Day of Peace, celebrated on January 1.
In the message, which is traditionally sent to governments and
international organisations, he also repeated his belief that
war in God's name is never justified.
The Pope also decried other threats to peace such as hunger,
poverty, environmental harm and regimes he said were persecuting
Christians.
'The new shape of conflicts, especially since the terrorist threat
unleashed new forms of violence, demands that the international
community reaffirm international humanitarian law,' he wrote.
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