US turns on Chavez after bombs

www.theaustralian.news.com.au From correspondents in Washington February 26, 2003

THE US has condemned twin bomb blasts near the diplomatic missions of Colombia and Spain in the Venezuelan capital and chastised President Hugo Chavez over his sharp rhetoric. Washington stopped short of blaming Chavez directly for inciting the attacks in Caracas, after he had earlier attacked both nations and the United States for their stand on the Venezuelan political crisis.

But a senior US official said: "(Chavez) says these things and that is followed by this."

Authorities in Venezuela said three people were hurt at the Colombian consulate and one at the Spanish Embassy. The blasts also damaged buildings and cars nearby.

"We strongly condemn today's bombings and the use of any form of violence," said US State Department deputy spokesman Philip Reeker.

"We note that these bombings followed the sharp verbal attacks by President Chavez on the international community as well as Venezuelans."

He called on Venezuela to launch an expeditious and thorough probe into the violence and to punish those responsible.

Chavez spoke out against Spain and the United States after they criticised the arrest of business leader Carlos Fernandez who headed a 63-day anti-government strike.

He also slammed Colombia, reacting to a statement by Colombian Interior Minister Fernando Londono who criticised the Venezuelan leader's contacts with Colombian rebels.

Asked whether there was concern that US diplomatic missions in Caracas could be the next to be attacked, the senior US official said: "Certainly, we worry about security all the time at all of our posts, but the tone and the atmosphere have taken a turn for the worst in the last few days."

Washington called on Chavez to live up to the terms of a non-violence pledge reached by the government and the opposition last week, which included a provision emphasising the need to curb inflammatory statements.