Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez on Tuesday dared the United
States to "cut off diplomatic
relations" over his opposition to U.S. President Barack Obama's choice of
a new ambassador.
Last week, Venezuela's
foreign minister expressed hope that the two sides could resolve the row over
diplomat Larry Palmer, who has been nominated by Obama but not yet confirmed by
the U.S. Senate.
"If the (US)
government wants to expel our ambassador there, let them! If they cut
diplomatic relations, let them," Chavez said on state television.
Chavez has insisted Palmer is not welcome after the veteran diplomat sharply
criticized Venezuela's
populist-socialist government during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearings
months ago.
Washington
has warned that ties could suffer over the dispute.
Relations between the United States
and Venezuela have been
strained in recent years as Chavez has repeatedly denounced "American
imperialism" and cultivated ties with U.S.
bugbears, including Cuba, Syria and Iran.