Chavez says US working for coup in Bolivia

CARACAS, Venezuela
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday accused the United States of trying to stir up a military rebellion against his left-wing Bolivian ally President Evo Morales.

Chavez, at the forefront of a leftist shift that is challenging American influence in Latin America, blames Washington for a 2002 coup attempt that briefly toppled his own government.

"The (U.S.) Embassy in Bolivia is already whispering in the ears of the Bolivian military to turn them against the government of Evo Morales," Chavez said during his weekly television program, which was broadcast from Bolivia.

"There is a plan against Bolivia and the U.S. ambassador in Bolivia is the head of this plan," he said. "The devil is everywhere."

Chavez is visiting Bolivia to sign deals for $1.5 billion in energy investments in the impoverished nation.

It was the latest salvo in a war of words between Chavez, a self-proclaimed revolutionary and leader of the world's No. 5 oil exporter, and the administration of
President George W. Bush.

Last week, Bush said he was concerned about the erosion of democracy in Venezuela and Bolivia. The White House has accused Venezuela of being uncooperative in the U.S. war against terrorism and of promoting instability in the region.

Chavez and Morales are close allies and, with Cuban President
Fidel Castro, have formed a leftist alliance that aims to counter what they call U.S. political and economic hegemony in Latin America.

"Gringo go home," Chavez, a former paratrooper, said during Sunday's broadcast. He said the U.S. government is willing to pay soldiers to turn them against the Bolivian government.

"The gringos offer lots of money," he said. "There are soldiers who sell themselves to the
CIA ... and they're paid by Washington."

Morales surprised investors by nationalizing the energy industry on May 1 in an apparent move to cement his power and build support ahead of elections this year for a special assembly to rewrite the constitution.

Chavez, who is running for reelection in December, has used oil income to finance social programs for the poor and solidify his support in the region.