Animal rights activists were in Nevada today to step up criticism of the KFC restaurant chain's refusal to follow the lead of fast-food industry leaders in changing the way it treats and kills chickens.

Bruce Friedrich is the director of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He says McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's responded to consumer pressure and KFC would do well to follow their lead.

A spokeswoman for KFC headquarters in Kentucky refused to respond directly to the criticisms. She accused PETA of engaging in a "misinformation campaign" aimed at establishing a "vegetarian world."

Two PETA activists picketed a KFC restaurant in Reno at noon today with signs that read, "KFC slits open live animals' throats" and "The Colonel's secret recipe: Live scalding, painful debeaking, crippled chickens."

It's the latest in more than 1,000 demonstrations around the world the past year. Friedrich says another 200 are planned over the next two weeks in all 50 states and dozens of countries.

Among other things, PETA wants KFC to demand its suppliers replace electric stunning and throat-slitting with gas killing, phase out rapid growth of chickens and add sheltered areas and perches for the birds at factory farms.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)