The UN human rights commissioner, Mrs Mary Robinson, has denied pressing for an emergency session of the Human Rights Commission to discuss the Algerian situation, a spokesman said yesterday. "At no time did I suggest that there be any consideration given to the holding of a special session of the Human Rights Commission, as it would not be appropriate for me to do so," Mrs Robinson wrote in a letter to Algeria's UN ambassador, Mr Mohamed-Salah Dembri.
Mrs Robinson is to meet Mr Dembri today. In the letter, the former president stressed that it was up to states to decide whether to convene a special meeting on Algeria at the commission, which meets for its annual six-week session in Geneva in March.
Mrs Robinson told Mr Dembri she was concerned about the "serious loss of life" in Algeria and had asked UN special rapporteurs to pass on "relevant information" to her.
Responding to Algerian protests that foreigners were meddling in its affairs, Mrs Robinson said "human rights do not stop at national borders".