The Venezuelan National Assembly (AN) appointed on Tuesday a special committee that will investigate webmasters who commit crimes provided in the Criminal Code or in the Venezuelan Constitution.

The Committee includes deputies of the Standing Committee on Domestic Policy, Human Rights and Constitutional Rights and the Standing Committee on Science, Technology and Communication, National Assembly. The new body will ensure reinforcement of the role of government powers, and ensure that the media "will play their role and do not create conditions that disturb the peace and calm of Venezuelans."

The Parliament adopted the decision in support of President Hugo Chávez, who questioned the news website Noticiero Digital for spreading false information about the alleged death of the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Diosdado Cabello, and pro-government TV anchor Mario Silva.

On Tuesday, members of the National Assembly filed an application with other government authorities to open an investigation into websites using Internet inappropriately and unethically.

The Committee on Media (AN) on Wednesday is launching talks that could result in a draft law to regulate Internet content.

The President of the Committee, Manuel Villalba (PSUV-Monagas), denied on Tuesday that the National Assembly has plans to "draft a law" to regulate the Internet. He also dismissed the possibility that the Parliament passes a law behind the scenes.

With reports from Pedro Pablo Peñaloza

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas