The US government criticized on Thursday in its annual report on human rights the restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association, among others, in Venezuela, Cuba, and to some extent in Colombia.

With regard to Venezuela, the US report said that the "politicization of the judiciary and official harassment and intimidation of the political opposition and the media intensified during 2009."

The US State Department, which delivered the document to the US Congress, claims that the Venezuelan government "actively" harassed privately owned and opposition-oriented television stations, media outlets and journalists throughout the year, while Cuban authorities continue to implement "severe restrictions" on freedom of expression, assembly and association, Efe reported.

Washington presented a long list of abuses committed in Venezuela, including unlawful killings, summary executions of criminal suspects, criminal kidnappings for ransom, prison uprising resulting from harsh prison conditions, arbitrary arrests and detentions and corruption in police forces that operate with impunity, Efe reported.

Source: ElUniversal.com