Human Rights Watch says China draft terrorism law a 'licence to commit abuses'

A paramilitary policeman (C) and pedestrians are reflected on water in front of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing October 23, 2014. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. advocacy group Human Rights Watch on Tuesday urged China to revise draft legislation aimed at combating terrorism, saying it was little more than "a licence to commit human rights abuses".

The law, which was made public for consultation last November, would establish a new counter-terrorism body that would have the power to designate organisations and members as terrorists without any protections of due process.