Caracas calls Rice's remarks on Chavez 'very grave'

Venezuela's foreign minister condemned comments by US Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice, who called President Hugo Chavez a destabilizing presence in Latin America during her Senate confirmation hearings.

Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez said Caracas found the remarks deeply troubling and demanded Washington stop interfering in Venezuelan affairs and honor national sovereignty.

He called it intolerable that the US appeared to be stirring tensions both inside Venezuela and across the region. Relations between the two governments have been strained since Chavez won the presidency in 1998, and he has long accused Washington of backing the 2002 coup attempt against him. Venezuela ranks as the 4th largest oil supplier to the US.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in January 2005, in its own words.