Philip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs, US Department of State, said on Tuesday that the United States is saddened by the death of Venezuelan farmer Franklin Brito, who had been on a hunger strike in protest for the expropriation of his lands by the government of President Hugo Chávez.

"We are saddened to hear of Mr. Brito's passing and we extend our condolences to his family," said Crowley, as reported by AFP. He stressed that Washington "did follow his case closely." But he simply added that the United States would "leave it to the Government of Venezuela to explain."

Brito, 49, died last Monday at the Military Hospital in Caracas after six years of protests and eight hunger strikes aimed at recovering full ownership of his lands.

Several months ago, Vice President Elías Jaua reported that there was a campaign to present Brito as an example of violation of human rights by the Venezuelan government.