CARACAS - US ambassador William Brownfield said in an interview published Tuesday that US officials had warned President Hugo Chavez in 2004 of a possible attempt on his life.
Brownfield's statement confirms what Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said in a weekend interview with Peru's El Comercio newspaper -- that Washington had given Chavez information in September or October that he was being targeted for assassination.
Rangel "speaks the truth" in his statements, Brownfield told the El Universal newspaper.
Brownfield's predecessor, Charles Shapiro, warned Venezuelan officials twice, the ambassador said.
"The first time was in April 2002. At that time (Shapiro) spoke with the president (Chavez) about the possibilities of a coup," Brownfield told the newspaper.
"The second time was in September or October," when Shapiro spoke to Rangel "about the possibilities of an assassination attempt."
In both cases "we fulfilled our obligations in that regard, because that is what our law mandates," Brownfield said.
Ties between Venezuela and the United States have been badly strained since Chavez, a former paratrooper colonel, accused Washington of plotting to kill him.
Washington has expressed dislike of Chavez's left-wing policies and support for Cuba.
03/08/2005 21:29 GMT