The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Caracas

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday said the government of Colombia was plotting with the United States to attack Venezuela, the same day Colombia hosted U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"I accuse the government of Colombia of plotting a conspiracy, acting as a pawn of the North American empire, of plotting a military provocation against Venezuela," Chavez told reporters at a news conference. The leftist Chavez has frequently accused the United States of plotting his ouster, and is currently mired in a diplomatic dispute with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe that has pushed bilateral relations to their lowest level in years.

"So I see it as very difficult for us to normalize (relations) under these circumstances. Unfortunately, everything suggests things will continue getting worse," he said.