The situation of human rights in Venezuela last year was marked by "the politicization of the judiciary, harassment of the media, and harassment of the political opposition," Tuesday claimed the United States administration.

In its 2006 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, submitted to Congress on a yearly basis, the US Department of State alleged that last year in Venezuela there were "unlawful killings; disappearances reportedly involving security forces; torture and abuse of detainees; harsh prison conditions; arbitrary arrests and detentions," Efe reported.

Reference was also made to "a corrupt, inefficient, and politicized judicial system characterized by trial delays, impunity, and violations of due process."

According to the report, in Venezuela there is "illegal wiretapping and searches of private homes; official intimidation and attacks on the independent media; widespread corruption at all levels of government; violence against women; trafficking in persons; and restrictions on workers' right of association."

Further, the document claims that "there were no reports that the government or its agents committed any politically motivated killings; however, security forces committed unlawful killings, including summary executions of criminal suspects, and mistreated persons in custody resulting in deaths."

In the 34-page section on Venezuela, the US Department of State provides details on such incidents, and stresses that "prosecutors rarely brought cases against perpetrators."

"When prosecutors investigated, they alleged that unsecured crime scenes, poor investigative techniques, and constantly changing or inexperienced personnel ensured that political and human rights abuse cases were delayed indefinitely," the US Department of State said, as quoted by Efe.

Sentences, if any, "frequently were light, and convictions often were overturned on appeal"

"Members of the security forces charged with or convicted of crimes rarely were imprisoned," the report added.

Regarding the media, the report underscores that "the government stepped up its harassment of independent and opposition news outlets. In December President (Hugo) Chávez announced that the government would not renew the broadcast license of Radio Caracas Television, the country's oldest commercial television network."

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