Venezuela Criticizes US Rights Report

Nothing more than "toilet paper":

In the latest diplomatic spat between the two countries, Venezuela has declared that a US state department report, saying Hugo Chavez’s government violated human rights, is nothing more than "toilet paper".

The blunt riposte from Caracas is the culmination of weeks of arguments between the two countries which saw two diplomats expelled.

The US state department released its 2005 report on world human rights on Wednesday, pointing out that opponents of Chavez were harassed, restrictive laws on the media and use of the judicial system for political ends.

The Venezuelan vice president, Vicente Rangal said: "These reports are just toilet paper, exactly that, toilet paper, because the US state department officials have no authority to judge any country in the world. If any country or any government violates human rights and is a centre of corruption, it's the US government," he said.