Reconciliation with US impossible, Chavez says

A supporter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez shades her eyes in front of the Presidential Palace of Miraflores in Caracas on Friday. PHOTO: EPA

Venezuelan Hugo Chavez said that reconciliation with Washington was impossible and threatened again to cut off oil shipments to the US if it supports any effort to oust him.

He said a thirst for oil motivated both the US-led invasion of Iraq and a failed 2002 coup against him. Chavez has often accused the US of being behind the coup, and Washington has repeatedly denied the allegation.

"There is no possibility of understanding for our revolution with the government of the United States, with US imperialism," Chavez said during a news conference on Friday to mark the fifth anniversary of his return to power two days after the coup.

Chavez said that the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were "a gift for [US President George W.] Bush" because they enabled him to wage war.

He did say "coexistence" was possible, but warned: "If there were another aggression against us, there wouldn't be another drop of oil for the United States ... We're prepared for it."

Venezuela the fourth-largest supplier of crude oil to the US last year despite the antagonism between the former paratrooper and the Bush administration.

Chavez that Pedro Carmona, who briefly replaced him during the failed 2002 coup, tried to arrange to have him killed in a faked accident.

"There are witnesses that say Pedro Carmona Estanga issued an order from the presidential palace to kill me ... but to make it look like an accident, and he had just received a call from Washington," Chavez said at the news conference. "The order to get rid of me came from Washington."

At the presidential palace on Friday, Chavez gazed through binoculars down the packed avenue and told thousands of supporters he had never seen such a large crowd there. He compared the 2002 coup bid to the failed CIA-supported Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961, which was routed by Cuban troops led by Fidel Castro.

"Does anyone believe there is any agreement possible with the US empire?" Chavez asked. The crowd outside the palace responded with shouts of "No!"