The World - News from Oct. 9, 1985

Nearly half the world’s countries tortured political prisoners, held them without charge or executed them in 1984, London-based Amnesty International charged in its annual report on human rights. In Nicaragua, the report said that there were some reports of ill treatment by the leftist government and that mistreatment of captives by U.S.-backed rebels was “frequently reported.” Although focusing on Asia, Africa and Latin America, it noted there were 21 executions in the United States, the most since 1963, and said 1,464 people are awaiting execution, the highest U.S. figure ever recorded.