CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Venezuela’s vice-president yesterday rejected allegations by a press advocacy group that President Hugo Chavez’s government poses a threat to press freedoms.

Jose Vicente Rangel said opinions expressed by the US-based Inter American Press Association “don’t carry any weight” and called the group “a totally discredited organisation”.

The IAPA, which is holding its general assembly in Indianapolis, warned Sunday that Chavez is using new legislation to harass government opponents and silence dissent in the South American nation.

“The application of the (Venezuelan) Law for Social Responsibility in Radio and Television is being done gradually to harass, limit opinions and restrain programming,” the Miami-based IAPA said in a statement.

Among other items, the contentious law bans “vulgar” language, images and sound, as well as “psychological” or physical violence, during daytime hours and morning and evening newscasts.

Critics, including local media executives and opposition politicians, argue the government is using the legislation to restrict newscasts, limit advertising revenues and curb criticism of Chavez.

Chavez insists he is not limiting press freedoms. The government claims the media regulations protect children from violence and have ended “selective censorship” by the local news media.

Since taking office in 1999, Chavez has clashed repeatedly with the media.

Television and radio networks in Venezuela have generally favoured the opposition over the past several years. Many supported a general strike in 2003 that sought unsuccessfully to force Chavez from power and cost the country an estimated US$7.5 billion (euro6.2 billion).

Chavez has accused broadcasters of conspiring to topple him and “spreading lies” to ruin his image. Media executives deny the allegations.