The US State Department released its second annual report on what it calls the government's effort to promote freedom and human rights around the country on Monday, after an earlier postponement amid a global anger over the Iraqi prisoner scandal.

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, at a news conference releasing the report, said the annual report depicted how the United States "engages in diplomacy, policy and hands-on projects to help fix what is wrong and to bring pressure to bear" in 101 countries.

"We also work to address the structural flaws that can lead to such violations in the first place," he said.

What is the most noteworthy about the report, however, is how it was released. The report had been initially scheduled to release on May 5, but had to be postponed after pictures of American soldiers abusing and sexually humiliating Iraqi prisoners triggered an international uproar.

It is widely believed that the State Department postponed the release of the report to avoid embarrassment amid anger over the flagrant violations of human rights by American soldiers in Iraq and elsewhere.

Armitage admitted that the abuse scandal has had impact on the US image, saying the fact that those involved in the scandal would be punished underscored the need for US leadership in promoting human rights overseas.

Lorne Craner, the State Department's top human rights official,said no cause would be helped if the United States remained silent on violations committed by other governments after the revelation of the abuse scandal.

"Who would be better off if we self-consciously turned inward?"he asked, "We want to punch through the cloud (of the scandal) and say we're not going to give up on democracy and human rights promotion," he said.

Source: Xinhua