Chan, a former Hong Kong health chief who was elected to the WHO's top post in November 2006, said legal actions filed by tobacco companies against authorities in Uruguay, Norway, Australia and Turkey were designed to weaken their resolve to control tobacco use.

"What the industry wants to see is a domino effect," she said.

"When one country's resolve falters under the pressure of costly, drawn-out litigation and threats of billion-dollar settlements, others with similar intentions are likely to topple as well."

Urging civil society groups to take up the slack when government efforts are weakened due to legal challenges from the tobacco industry she said: "we need this kind of outcry, this kind of rage."

According to the WHO, tobacco use kills nearly 6 million people each year, including more than 600,000 who are non-smokers but exposed to second-hand smoke.

The UN health watchdog says the annual death toll could rise to more than 8 million by 2030.

In a major victory for the anti-tobacco campaign, the WHO pushed for a global treaty called the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which came into force 7 years ago.

But a study released Tuesday on the sidelines of the Singapore conference said "interference" by cigarette firms in public health policies is slowing down the campaign against tobacco use.

Many leading cigarette companies say they back greater regulation but warn that too strict actions will force smokers to buy from the black market, which can not be monitored.

On its website Philip Morris says its priority is to conduct research to reduce the risks of smoking-related diseases, while British American Tobacco's website says plain packaging on cigarettes is "a gift to the black market".

 

Wow, just stopped in and look who I find.

How are you Elenor? Good to see you