Merkel tells Beijing to expect human rights scrutiny

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that China would have to get used to increasing scrutiny of its human rights record in the runup to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, AP reported. Speaking at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, Merkel said that it "remains to be seen how China presents itself regarding the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press." The previous day Merkel held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao at which human rights, trade, environmental protection and copyright piracy were discussed. Beijing has long claimed that hosting the Olympics is a means of boosting human rights protection in China and easing restrictions on foreign media. Rights-monitoring groups say that activists are still being persecuted and reporters harassed.