Venezuela condemns US report on human rights
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090226/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_venezuela_us;_ylt=AlVyv3ibwuNk2O9Ouw.Wtuy3IxIF CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela on Thursday condemned a U.S. State Department report on human rights problems in the South American country, saying Washington has no right to pass judgment on its record.
Venezuela's Foreign Ministry said it categorically rejects the U.S. report, which cited a politicized judiciary and harassment of the political opposition and the news media, among other problems.
The report's allegations are "false, bad-intentioned and meddling," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its Web site. It also said the U.S. has "the darkest record of violations ... of human dignity in modern history" and that its officials are in no position to judge other countries.
President Hugo Chavez has long been one of the U.S. government's harshest and most vocal critics but recently expressed hope that relations may improve under President Barack Obama. Chavez has said good relations will depend in large part on whether Washington shows respect for his government, which is a major U.S. oil supplier.
The State Department's report addresses human rights issues in countries across the world during the past year.
It said some of Venezuela's principal rights problems include unlawful killings by authorities, horrendous prison conditions, a politicized judicial system, discrimination on political grounds, intimidation and attacks on the news media, and widespread corruption at all levels of government.
Venezuela said that relations with the U.S. should be based on mutual respect and noninterference in each country's affairs.
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