Politics A group of 41 US Representatives have asked Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to strengthen human rights and political pluralism in his country, following the expulsion of two NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) activists.

In a letter sent to Chávez and made public on Tuesday, the lawmakers, both Democrat and Republican, strongly condemned the expulsion of José Miguel Vivanco, the Director for the Americas of HRW, and Daniel Wilkinson, deputy director of the NGO, on September 18, after disclosing a report criticizing the Venezuelan government, reported Efe.

''Human rights reporting should never be viewed as a violation of sovereignty or an act of subversion,'' said the letter, sent to Chávez on September 26.

''Ironically, by expelling Human Rights Watch staff from your country, you have underscored and reinforced the concerns, criticisms and conclusions detailed in the (HRW) report,'' added the letter.