From what began as an 'Asian problem', we now have reports of bird flu in India, Iran, Nigeria, Egypt, Russia, Azerbaijan, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Romania, Greece, Italy, Hungary and possibly France. Statistics show that the list of countries being affected is growing weekly.

Mr Crush says that 'there have been very few human deaths worldwide from bird flu'. According to the WHO website, 91 people have died worldwide so far. I think 91 deaths can hardly be called 'very few'. Any loss of life is deplorable, and this grim statistic is an urgent warning to take this disease seriously.

Mr Crush says that 'it has been poor people, who are living in rundown and unhygienic circumstances and, in most cases, have eaten diseased birds' who have died. How many rich people need to die before he accepts that there is a problem? Any publicity can only help to focus attention on the disease and I am surprised that he objects to that.

KARL JOHN, Hanoi

Noisy marathon

The Hong Kong marathon on February 12 created a tremendous noise that woke up thousands of Tsim Sha Tsui residents in the early hours of that Sunday.

The organisers used amplifiers to blast music and shouts to cheer up the runners, starting from 5.30am. Added to that were drums and the clash of cymbals from a lion dance, and the chants of runners. Our whole family, including two children, were woken up at 5.30am sharp and were never able to go back to sleep because the noise continued until 9am.

My spouse and I were tired all day and my children were cranky. We were not able to enjoy our only day off. The marathon organisers were most inconsiderate. While it is a good event, they must relocate it to country parks, highways or the central business district. Alternatively, start the marathon at noon.

S. HO, Tsim Sha Tsui

No parallel with Hamas

I had not seen a comparison of Hong Kong's political reform and the recent election of Hamas ('The democracy timebomb', February 14), until I read Kennedy Wong Ying-ho's article.

While I think I understand the points he was trying to make, I found his comparison not only ill-founded, but sophomoric and cloistered.

Allow me to point out a couple of differences between Hamas and Hong Kong's electoral system. Hamas' charter calls for the destruction of Israel. In its covenant of 1988, Hamas also allows for 'killing the Jews'. It even cites the forgery, The Protocols of the elders of Zion, as proof of what the Jews do, including that they 'control the world media, news agencies, the press'. This is fiction. I don't think the issues we have in Hong Kong come remotely close.

NEAL HORWITZ, Central

A room for smokers

Benjamin Rees ('Smokers are the tyrants', February 18) says that smokers should be allowed to smoke in small, sealed rooms.

As a (cigar) smoker who does not want to inflict smoke on those who do not want it, all I ask is that Hong Kong legislators permit small sealed rooms in which I and other smokers can indulge our habit.

CHRIS MADEN, Tsuen Wan

Prisoner-photos shame

Imagine that thousands of white Christian Americans were being held without charge in prisons run by Iran. Imagine that photos were published of these Americans being murdered, tortured and sexually humiliated.

Imagine if the only response to this by the Iranian government was to issue a statement saying that the photos should not have been published to 'protect the privacy' of the torture victims, and that it could cause 'further unnecessary violence'. No apologies to the victims. No talk of releasing the victims. No statement saying that the torture would stop.

What would the response in the west be? Sanctions? Invasion? At the very least, a war crimes tribunal for the Iranian leaders?

However, it is not Iran or any other so-called 'rogue state' which is committing these atrocities. It is the United States ('Angry Iraqis warn new abuse images will inflame hatred', February 17). And the victims are Arabs. This is why the world doesn't care. This is why those in Washington will go unpunished.

JACK MUIR, Lamma