Bush seeks to pass baton on his "Freedom Agenda"

By Tabassum Zakaria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Thursday urged his successor to carry on what he called his "freedom agenda" of promoting human rights, democracy, and free trade around the world.

Bush, with six months left in office, peppered a speech to mark "Captive Nations Week" with the phrases "in the years ahead" and "the challenge for future presidents and future Congresses" -- a nod to his waning White House days.

He spoke just hours before Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama made a speech in Germany during a trip to Europe and the Middle East seen as an effort to burnish his foreign policy credentials before the November U.S. elections.

"Over the past seven years, we've spoken out against human rights abuses by tyrannical regimes like those in Iran, Sudan, and Syria and Zimbabwe," Bush said.

"We've spoken candidly about human rights with nations with whom we've got good relations, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia and China."

He called again for the release of political prisoners, specifically mentioning Ayman Nour of Egypt, Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, Oscar Biscet of Cuba, and Riad Seif of Syria.

"The challenge for future presidents and future Congresses is to ensure that America always stands with those seeking freedom -- and never hesitates to shine the light of conscience on abuses of human rights across the world," Bush said.

Human rights activists and others have criticized Bush for setting up the detention facility at the U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where terrorism suspects have been held for years in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks.