Gore Criticized Over Trade, Rights Issues

Al Gore took some heat Thursday from American interests who don’t think he got China’s leaders to commit sufficiently to progress in areas important to the United States - trade and human rights.

And, as the vice president neared the end of a five-day visit that’s had some rocky moments, Chinese emotions bristled anew over allegations that Beijing may have illegally tried to influence last November’s elections in the United States.

U.S. Ambassador James Sasser said Chinese officials told him they are angry and offended.

And a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said American government officials had been “irresponsible” in making such allegations.