China today accused the US of hypocrisy on human rights and said that the US record at home did not make "bedtime reading".
Mr Sha Zukang, China's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, took the floor at the annual UN Commission on Human Rights to respond to US ambassador Richard Williamson, who had accused China of "backsliding" on human rights in the past year.
Mr Williamson had cited China's increased arrests of democracy activists and its "poor record" on Tibet. The US plans to present a resolution on China's alleged violations at the forum's six-week session, which ends on April 23rd .
But Mr Sha retorted: "We have prepared China's white paper on human rights of the United States... but my delegation strongly advises you not to read it before you go to bed because you might have a nightmare."
China's annual report, released in Beijing on March 1st, said the United States tried to play the role of the world's human rights policeman despite murders, rapes, and racial clashes at home.
"The U.S. is well-known for its racial discrimination, police brutality and mistreatment of detainees. If there is any world record, I am sure you are the champion," Mr Sha said.
"We would suggest to the United States to buy a mirror and look at yourselves in it. China is a poor, developing country. If you don't have a mirror, we can buy one for you," he added.
Human rights groups criticise the United States for holding prisoners in Guantanamo Bay without charge or legal representation and without access to their families.