US President George W. Bush voiced his concern about the efforts by President Hugo Chávez' government "to harass and intimidate" ONG Súmate, after meeting Tuesday with the organization leader, María Corina Machado, Wednesday said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

"The President expressed his concerns about efforts to harass and intimidate Súmate and its leadership," said McClellan when commenting on the private meeting Bush held with Machado at the White House Oval Office, reported DPA.

"The President was pleased to meet with her yesterday," added the McClellan. Bush "wanted to listen to her concerns and hear about what is going on in Venezuela, and that meeting was an opportunity for him to do just that."

"They discussed Súmate's important work in defense of constitutional rights in Venezuela, and especially its efforts to safeguard the integrity and transparency of Venezuela's electoral process," he said.