China top in world for executions

Setting the death penalty for convicted murderers aside, China seems to have a thing for executing citizens for decention. China will execute almost 400 people during the Olympics, Amnesty International says.

A new league table of executions puts China at the top, having admitted using capital punishment 470 times last year, the London-based group said, while adding that campaigners believe the true figure is 8000.

"As the world's biggest executioner, China gets the 'gold medal' for global executions,'' said Amnesty's British director Kate Allen. "According to reliable estimates, on average China secretly executes around 22 prisoners every day - that's 374 people during the Olympic Games,'' she said.

Amnesty urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as well as Olympic athletes themselves to press for greater openness about executions by China, which will host the Olympics in Beijing from August 8-24. Amnesty warned that China's human rights record was getting worse as Beijing bids to present a united front by cracking down on dissent.

Amnesty urged the IOC and the international community to maintain pressure on Beijing.