Amnesty International has urged Fiji’s interim government to stop intimidating and threatening the media.

The London-based organization’s annual report on global human rights says the situation in Fiji has worsened since the military coup in December 2006.

Radio Australia reported that Amnesty International said in its 2008 report on the state of human rights around the world that the situation in Fiji has deteriorated.

The report questions the integrity and independence of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, after the release of reports supportive of the coup, and its actions since.

It also says Fijians have lost faith in the judicial system, and that the military and police have repeatedly abused human rights and dignity.

Amnesty expressed concern at the Fiji military’s pursuit and detention of bloggers critical of the coup and the interim government.

The Herald Tribune International quoted Amnesty International as saying human rights in Fiji worsened since the coup, with deaths in custody, punishment of government opponents and crackdowns on the judiciary and media.

The report says the coup triggered "serious human rights violations," and the military government has limited the judiciary’s independence and severely undermined media freedom and freedom of expression.

It said three people have died after brutal beatings while in the custody of security forces.

"Between December 2006 and July 2007, hundreds of people were forced to strip naked, run around fields, or touch each other’s private parts. Many were also physically assaulted by soldiers and police officers," the report said.

Margaret Taylor, spokeswoman for the London-based group, said Fiji’s human rights commission "seems more complicit with the coup leaders than human rights generally," contributing to more abuses.

"The wise people who can call a halt to some of the abuses going on ... no longer have a voice," she told The Associated Press, noting that the country’s chief justice and six appeal court justices had been forced to leave their posts.

There was no immediate comment from Frank Bainimarama, the coup leader and prime minister.

Taylor urged Bainimarama to restore democracy and ensure that his government, military and police respect human rights.