Over 70 Countries Consider Homosexuality a Crime

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - More than 70 countries consider homosexuality a crime and 30 of those violate the human rights of homosexuals, Amnesty International said in a report published on Friday.

The report, entitled ``Crimes of hate, conspiracy of silence,'' focused on 30 countries where human rights abuses against homosexuals have been documented. It was released in Argentina, where homosexuality is legal but homosexuals are still persecuted, the group said.

``All over the world gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals and transvestites are at risk, especially of being victimized by human rights violations because of their sexual identity,'' Ignacio Sainz, one of the authors of the report, told journalists.

Amnesty International blamed the Argentine government for the February death of a homosexual in police custody. The report included information about the persecution of homosexuals and transvestites in Mexico and Ecuador as well as countries in Africa and Eastern Europe.