Caracas, July 1 (RHC)-- Venezuela has called a human rights report on the country biased and "lacking any objectivity," according to local media. The report was issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) under the Organization of American States (OAS). The report criticized Venezuela's state security of using excessive force against anti-government protesters.

Venezuela's permanent mission to the Organization of American States (OAS) rejected the report, saying it "lacked any objectivity." The commission "does not know about the Venezuelan state's efforts to guarantee peace and security in the country," and "publicizes its conclusions without investigating the events in a careful, balanced and rigorous way," the Venezuelan government said.

Venezuela's mission to the OAS said in a statement that the government respects "the right to peaceful and unarmed protest (and) freedom of expression," and will take necessary steps to punish those responsible for the violence.