On Thursday, the U.S. government unveiled its 34th annual human rights report and says that China and Iran have stepped up human rights abuses.

The report accused China of violating cultural and religious freedom, and for broadening its effort in monitoring information on the Internet.

[Michael Posner, Assistant Sec. of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor]:
"I want to just mention a couple of other places, one is China where the government's human rights record remain poor, and worsening in some areas including increased cultural and religious repression of ethnic minorities."

According to the report, "China increased its efforts to monitor Internet use, control content, restrict information, block access to foreign and domestic Web sites, encourage self-censorship, and punish those who violated regulations." It also mentioned Beijing employed thousands to monitor electronic communications.

In the report, Iran was accused for the violent suppression of mass protests, which followed the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

[Michael Posner, Assistant Sec. of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor]:
"Iran, an already poor human rights situation, rapidly deteriorated after the June elections, at least 45 people were killed in clashes, thousands were arrested and another thousand were arrested in demonstrations in December. It is a place where we are continuing to see severe repression of dissent and are continuing to pay great attention."

The report includes a survey of human rights in 194 countries.

The U.S. also criticized Cuba, Burma, North Korea, Russia and Sri Lanka for human rights abuses.