Colin Powell: Human trafficking is 'morally unacceptable'

The US Department of State says the countries, including Greece and Turkey, may face US Government sanctions.

An additional 74 countries were named as not doing the minimum to stop the trade, although they have made "significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance".

However, the 15 countries cited this year as major offenders is lower than the 19 named by the Department of State last year.

As he released the department's third report, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said human trafficking was appalling in a world where "freedom and democracy are spreading to every continent".

Forced into prostitution

He added: "It is... morally unacceptable that hundreds of thousands of men, women and children are exploited, abused and enslaved by peddlers in human misery."

Apart from Greece and Turkey, the other major offenders named were Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burma, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Liberia, North Korea, Sudan, Suriname, and Uzbekistan.

The report also warned that problems could develop in post-war Iraq.

"In many conflict situations criminal elements have exploited the breakdown of [the] rule of law and the desperation of vulnerable families, and abducted, forced, or tricked individuals into prostitution," the report said.

Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children are exploited, abused and enslaved by peddlers in human misery US Secretary of State Colin Powell

But the US itself is not immune to the problem.

The US Government estimates that 800,000 to 900,000 people are moved annually across international borders worldwide, with 18,000 to 20,000 winding up in America.

For the first time, countries that do not take actions to stop human trafficking face the loss of US assistance.

Sanctions could come in by October, although the US could waive any penalties.

The report also named countries, including the United Kingdom and France, that had made a major effort to stamp out human trafficking.