The Brazilian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday criticized the U.S. annual survey of human rights practices, saying reports drawn up unilaterally are unacceptable.

The annual report, which was released on Tuesday by the U.S. State Department, said people who were arrested by law enforcers in Brazil were abused, spanked and tortured. It also said the number of people killed by Brazilian police had increased in 2006, and most human rights violators are never held accountable.

"The Brazilian government does not recognize the legitimacy of reports elaborated unilaterally by countries that use domestic criteria that many times are politically motivated," the ministry said in a statement posted on its Web site.

Reports like the one released by the U.S. government were regarded as unacceptable as they contradict principles of the human rights doctrine itself, such as universality, the statement said.

The statement said Brazil has opened its doors to human rights representatives from the United Nations and "encourages other nations, including the United States, to adopt the same posture."

The Brazilian ministry said it is open to talks with all international human rights organizations, and favors reports that offer an impartial point of view on human rights.

The report was released just two days before President George W. Bush visits Brazil on the first leg of his longest ever tour to Latin America. Bush aims to use the tour, which will also take him to Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico, to increase the U.S. influence in the region.

The March 8-14 trip comes as Washington is adjusting its policy towards the region after Bush has come under increasing criticism by the Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress.

The Democrats said Bush has "lost" Latin America and just focused on his failed "War on Terror," which has consequently put anti-U.S. voices such as Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on the rise.

In 2006, 12 elections were held in the region and a broad range of leftists came to power including some who openly challenged Washington's policy.

Source: Xinhua