The foreign ministry yesterday criticized a report by Amnesty International attacking China's record on human rights, saying the organization had a biased attitude toward China.

"Anybody who knows about China will not agree with this report on the deterioration of the human rights situation," ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said during a regular news briefing.

"We hope it (Amnesty International) can take off the colored glasses it has worn for many years and see China in an objective way."

Liu was responding to a report issued by the London-based group that was published on Monday in Hong Kong.

The report accused Beijing of failing to keep the promises it made seven years ago when it won the right to host the Olympics, saying it had made only some minor reforms.

The Chinese authorities have stepped up repression to present a picture of harmony and stability at the Games, it said.

The government has kept "an open mind" on discussions of its human rights situation, Liu said, without further elaborating.

The organization neglected to mention the huge progress China has made on human rights issues and used rumors to attack the country and interfere in its internal affairs, he said.

"I hope relevant organizations carefully study Chinese law and stop attacking China by defending certain cases under the pretext of human rights," he said.

Liu said Amnesty International has tried to mobilize some political figures, including US President George W. Bush, to pressure Beijing ahead of and during the Games.

(China Daily July 30, 2008)