HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SLAMS STAND BY VANCOUVER MAYOR

America's largest human-rights agency is locked in a battle with Vancouver
Mayor Larry Campbell over a report criticizing the police crackdown on drug
dealers in the Downtown Eastside.

Human Rights Watch yesterday slammed Campbell's efforts to discredit the
report and said the mayor's response highlights the city's failure to
address concerns about the policing strategy.

Earlier this month, Campbell demanded the group withdraw the report which
claims recent policing efforts violate human rights and threaten to
accelerate the area's AIDS epidemic. He was ill yesterday and could not be
reached for comment.