Trade uranium to lift rights, Aust urged

An international human rights lawyer says Australia could pressure the Russian Government to improve human rights if the two countries begin trading uranium.
Canadian Robert Amsterdam is in Australia to raise awareness of human rights issues, as Australia considers exporting uranium to Russia's nuclear energy industry.
Mr Amsterdam has told ABC TV's Lateline Prime Minister John Howard cannot ignore Russia's problems.
"Mr Howard's a man of great courage," he said.
"I think being exposed to the facts of Russia - the fact that Russia is the third most dangerous country in the world for journalists, the fact that even the head of the Supreme Arbitrage Court admits the courts are hopelessly corrupt - these are things that have to be addressed if Russia is going to make it as a great power."
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