CARACAS, Feb. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Venezuelan Vice President Jose Rangel said Monday that the United States does not have the moral authority to address the issue of human rights.

    "The government that nowadays violates human rights the most both in and out of its territory is that of the United States, by way of the murder of thousands of people, including children, women and old people, in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Rangel.

    Rangel made the statement in response to a report released Monday by the US State Department, claiming that "human rights are not respected and poverty prevails" in Venezuela.

    The vice president described the report as the same as the ones issued in the past, only "with more lies, falsehood and hypocrisy," and that the US government is disqualified to address the issue of human rights.

    Since the installation of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and US President George W. Bush, relations between both countries have been tense.

    Two weeks ago, Chavez accused Washington of planning to assassinate him and initiate a military intervention against Venezuela.

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