US raps China for 'serious backsliding' on rights

© AFP/File Mike Clarke

AFP

BEIJING (AFP) - A US envoy accused China of "serious backsliding" on human rights Thursday following talks on the issue that were held as Beijing carries out a severe crackdown on government critics.

Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner also indicated China rebuffed US appeals to soften the crackdown and resolve the cases of prominent artist Ai Weiwei and other detained activists and dissidents.

"In recent weeks we have seen a serious backsliding on human rights and the discussion of these negative trends dominated the human rights dialogue over the past few days," Posner told reporters.