"In situations of conflict, the prisoners must receive treatment that goes in agreement with the international humanitarian law," the foreign minister said during the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

"We won't close our eyes to violations of human rights and international humanitarian law on prisoners of war and the conditions of civilians," he said.

He also stressed that it is an international responsibility to solve the Middle East problem, by switching from violence to dialogue.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2003)