(AP)
Updated: 2007-08-09 20:07

HANOI, Vietnam _ The outgoing US ambassador to Vietnam said Thursday the country's poor human rights record was the biggest disappointment experienced during his three years in Hanoi.

Ambassador Michael Marine has urged Vietnamese officials to improve religious freedoms and treatment of pro-democracy activists. The country has released a number of high-profile dissidents from jail during Marine's tenure, but it has also continued to arrest and sentence others to prison terms.

"I wish I could say that it's improving, but I can't," he told reporters. "It's perhaps my biggest disappointment."

In April, Vietnamese police physically blocked a group of dissidents' wives from attending a tea at Marine's home. He had also invited visiting Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., who also witnessed the incident and accused police of manhandling the women.

Vietnam's government does not tolerate any form of dissent. Hanoi maintains that only lawbreakers are jailed and that no one is punished for their political or religious beliefs.

"There are laws on the books that allow the authorities to move against people for expressing their opinions, organizing in any way or calling for political change," Marine said. "Those are fundamental human rights that I strongly believe are universal and should be enjoyed by the people of Vietnam."

But Marine praised the former foes' growing relationship in other areas. Two-way trade continues to boom, and he said the two sides are preparing to move forward soon to address environmental issues near an old Agent Orange storage site at a former US air base in Danang.

US forces sprayed the defoliant during the Vietnam War to destroy Vietnamese troops' jungle cover. It contains highly toxic dioxin, which has been linked to a number of serious health issues. Vietnam says 3 million of its citizens have suffered health problems due to exposure to the herbicide. Washington insists there is not enough scientific evidence to link Agent Orange to health problems.

Marine, who will retire after leaving his post in Vietnam, said the two sides' military ties continue to grow, including work to recover American soldiers still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. He said US Navy vessels may soon be involved in underwater searches for remains offshore.