In its annual report on human rights for 194 countries, the State Department also denounced North Korea's "deplorable" record, "egregious" abuses in Myanmar as well as "numerous and serious" violations in Cuba.

In China, the report said, the authorities continued the repression of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, the western region where China's Han majority engaged last year in deadly clashes with local Uighurs.

The report also said "the detention and harassment of human rights activists increased, and public interest lawyers and law firms that took on cases deemed sensitive by the government faced harassment, disbarment and closure."

The report said China also imposed "tight government controls" on Tibetans, who faced restrictions on practicing their religion and severe repercussions if they tried to escape to Nepal.

It also continued its clampdown on the Falungong, a spiritual movement loosely based on Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian philosophies, according to the State Department.

The report said "the situation in the North Caucasus region of Russia worsened as the government fought insurgents, Islamist militants, and criminal forces."

It cited reports in which both sides "engaged in killings, torture, abuse, violence, politically motivated abductions, and other brutal or humiliating treatment."

The State Department report said North Korea's human rights record is "deplorable," with the regime engaging in summary executions, torture, forced abortions and infanticide.

While it has little access to the reclusive nation, the State Department said there were credible reports of severe abuses of anyone perceived as critical of Kim Jong-Il's regime or who tries to emigrate illegally.

The report said the junta in Myanmar continued its "egregious human rights violations and abuses during the year," including increased military attacks in ethnic minority regions, such as in the Karen and Shan states.

It also continued to imprison and abuse its political opponents.

The State Department charged that Iran's already "poor human rights record degenerated" in 2009, particularly with a deadly security crackdown after disputed presidential elections in June.

Aside from human rights, the United States is seriously concerned about Iran's and North Korea's nuclear ambitious.

Iran was also cited as a key example of governments that fuel anti-Semitism, often under a new guise of denouncing Zionism or Israeli policies. Egypt, a US ally, was also blamed.

"Traditional and new forms of anti-Semitism continued to arise," particularly after Israel launched its brief offensive against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip in December 2008, the report said.

Meanwhile, the State Department expressed "growing concern" over the discrimination against Muslims in Europe, citing in particular a ban on the construction of minarets in Switzerland.

The State Department reported that US-backed governments in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq had mixed records last year.

It referred to reports in Iraq "that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings" despite improved security in the country.

It also cited widespread charges of fraud in the August election in Afghanistan, but spoke of greater media and public debate.

In neighboring Pakistan, the State Department added, "major problems" like extrajudicial killings, torture, and disappearances remain despite some "positive steps" taken by the authorities.

It said Sri Lanka violated human rights last year as it dealt a final blow to Tamil Tiger insurgents and clamped down on media freedom, but there were some signs of progress following the victory by government troops.

Turning from Asia to Latin America, the report said Cuba continues to deny its citizens' basic human rights, including the right to change their government, and has committed "numerous and serious abuses."

In close Cuba ally Venezuela, "politicization of the judiciary and official harassment and intimidation of the political opposition and the media intensified during the year," according to the report.

The State Department also signaled worrying trends like growing crackdowns on non-government organizations, persecution of vulnerable ethnic and other groups as well as restrictions on media.

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