Xinjiang abuses: UN rights chief to publish report

The UN rights chief was set to release a long-awaited report on alleged violations in China's Xinjiang region before leaving office later yesterday, despite strong pressure from Beijing not to publish. "The report on Xinjiang will go out by the end of the day," said Jeremy Laurence, a spokesman for the outgoing High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet -- who promised to publish the report before her mandate expires at the end of August. Her report will therefore come out in the final 10 hours of her term and is set to stand as her last act in office. Speaking earlier yesterday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said he hoped Bachelet would not publish it in her final hours in office.