US plotting coups, assassinations in Latin America: Chavez

EL ALTO/BOLIVIA: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez launched fresh attacks on Sunday against his US counterpart George W. Bush, and claimed the US administration was plotting coups and assassinations in Latin America.   

"I am warning: the US embassies are continuing to launch plans for assassinations and coups in our countries. I accuse the US government of being behind these plans," Chavez said during a visit to a military base near the Bolivian capital La Paz. He insisted the United States "would be sorry" if anything happened to him or his Bolivian ally and fellow-leftist President Evo Morales.   

His trip to Bolivia was part of a Latin American tour that rivaled the one US President George W. Bush is leading.   

Chavez claimed Bush's tour was marked by "false promises and manipulations."   

He once again called the US president "political dead meat" as he had already done at a 35,000-strong anti-Bush rally he headlined in Buenos Aires on Friday.   

Later on Sunday, Chavez was to head to Nicaragua, which is governed by leftist leader Daniel Ortega, according to his delegation.   

So far, Bush has ignored the Chavez taunts during his Latin American trip. On Sunday, he held talks with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in Bogota, following visits to Brazil and Uruguay. He was to head to Guatemala later in the day, and will conclude his trip in Mexico.