By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA, Jan 19 (Reuter) - Religious extremism, which is rampant in Algeria and targets intellectuals in other countries in the Middle East and Africa, is like a "cancer" which must be stamped out, a U.N. human rights investigator said on Friday.

Abdelfattah Amor, United Nations special rapporteur on religious intolerance, warned that religious extremist groups could pose a threat to international peace and security.

He called for setting minimum rules of conduct towards such groups, and said governments should ensure places of worship are neutral and protected from "tensions and political struggles."

His 16-page report to the U.N. Human Rights Commission, which opens its annual meeting in March, was issued in Geneva.

Amor, a former dean of the University of Tunis law faculty, also cited alleged violations against Christians in 25 states including China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkey and Vietnam.

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He also expressed concern to Chinese authorities regarding Chadrel Rimpoche, an abbot who headed the search committee for a successor to Panchen Lama, who was arrested in Chengdu last May.

Another appeal sent to Beijing concerned Yulo Dawa Tsering, a senior Tibetan monk freed on November 1994 who was met by Amor during his visit to China that same month.

"He is apparently being held incommunicado in the Rabses district of Lhasa. The special rapporteur notes the pledge made by Chinese authorities during his visit that Yulo Dawa Tsering would not be negatively affected after his meeting," Amor wrote.

REUTER