BEIJING, Dec 18 (AFP) - China's top judge vowed Wednesday to intensify the country's draconian anti-crime campaign next year, following one of the bloodiest weeks for executions since the Strike Hard campaign was launched in April.

Local newspapers have reported at least 120 executions across the country since December 12, with most of those who received the traditional bullet to the back of the head having been convicted of murder, drug trafficking and armed robbery.

"On the basis of our successful experiences this year, we will continue to deepen the 'Strike Hard' campaign and avoid any easing of the struggle against violent crime," Supreme People's Court President Ren Jianxin said.

Originally slated to last just three months, 'Strike Hard' shows no sign of letting up and, in sensitive regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang, has actually been expanded to cover separatism and illegal religious activities.

"The key task for next year is to eliminate all threats to social stability by asserting complete control over the public order situation throughout the country," Ren was quoted as saying by the People's Daily.

Although condemned by human rights organisations, the thousands of executions ordered since 'Strike Hard' began have been hailed by the Chinese authorities as a major step in countering an alarming surge in violent crime.

Assistant Public Security Minister Zhu Entao, who also heads China's Interpol branch, said in Hong Kong on Tuesday that public order throughout China had "greatly improved" as a result of the campaign.

"The number of crimes during the first 10 months of the year went down by two percent compared to 1995 -- the first decline in the past several years," Zhu said during a meeting with the territory's police chiefs.

The latest reported mass execution was of 43 criminals in the southern city of Guangzhou on Tuesday.

After the death sentences were read out at public rallies in seven separate districts of the city, the 43 were immediately taken to the main Guangzhou execution ground and shot.

Since December 12, local newspapers have reported 66 executions in Guangzhou including the latest case -- 25 in the southeastern province of Jiangxi, 15 in the northeastern province of Jilin, eight in the central province of Henan and six in Beijing.

Many more executions go unreported.

According to an unofficial count culled from media reports, at least 2,200 people have been executed by firing squad and thousands sentenced to death or heavy prison sentences since the "Strike Hard" campaign began.

Amnesty International strongly denounced the campaign as early as July, saying the execution toll was "far higher" than that reported in the official press.

"The number of executions is shocking and will only serve to fuel a climate of violence and vengeance," Amnesty said.

"Intensive and at time hysterical propaganda" fuels "state killing on a massive scale," it said, adding that many of the executions were ordered by local officials keen to impress the central authorities with their commitment to the campaign.

On International Drug Prevention Day on June 26, at least 253 people were reported to have been executed across the country the vast majority for drug-related offences.