Amnesty says politics of fear fuelling divisions

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The politics of fear are fuelling human rights abuses and creating a dangerously divided world, Amnesty International said in a sombre assessment of man's inhumanity around the globe.

"Our world is as polarised as it was at the height of the Cold War and in many ways far more dangerous," Irene Khan, secretary-general of the human rights pressure group said in its latest annual report published on Wednesday.

She said fear has been a positive motivator for change over global warming with politicians being forced belatedly into action by the pressure of public opinion.

But she said fear was being used to erode the rights of people -- all in the name of greater security.

Pointing an accusing finger around the globe from Washington to Harare, Amnesty blamed governments for undermining human rights and feeding racism with short-sighted, fear-mongering and divisive policies.

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