A fact-finding mission should look into the "disproportionate" use of force by police and soldiers in Northern Ireland, Russian officials have told a closed-door meeting at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna.
Diplomats say Russia dislikes the security and human-rights watchdog's criticism of its democratic and human rights record.
The OSCE "should conduct an in-depth study of all the circumstances surrounding the current exacerbation of this long-standing conflict," Russia's acting permanent envoy to the OSCE, Mr Boris Timokhov, said. Russia has been criticised for its rights record in Chechnya, where it is fighting separatist rebels.
Mr Timokhov told the OSCE on Thursday that Russia was concerned at the situation in Northern Ireland after the IRA withdrew an offer to disarm earlier this month. The mission should consider "the acts of terrorism and the instances of a disproportionate use of armed force by the army and the police that have occurred there", he said.
Britain's ambassador rejected the statement on excessive force. "There are many problems in Northern Ireland, but use of excessive force is not one of them," Mr Colin Munro said in his response.
Ireland's ambassador said the added value of an OSCE mission was "not immediately apparent". - (Reuters)