Venezuela's Chavez names new defense minister

CARACAS, Venezuela
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced on Saturday that army commander Gen. Raul Baduel, who helped the firebrand leftist return to power in 2002, will become Venezuela's next defense minister.

It was not clear when Baduel would assume the post.

Chavez, a former soldier who has promised a socialist revolution in the world's No. 5 oil exporter, has led a campaign to fortify Venezuela's military with arms purchases that Washington has called a military "spending spree."

"I announce the ascent of General Baduel ... he will be the next minister of defense," Chavez said during a military parade. He did not specify what would happen to the current defense minister, Adm. Orlando Maniglia.

In April 2002, Baduel led a military mission to restore Chavez to power after he was briefly ousted by a coalition of opposition politicians and dissident military officers.

Baduel also has helped train Venezuelan reservists and civilians to use guerrilla warfare tactics to fend off a possible U.S. invasion.

Chavez, who led a failed coup in 1992, insists the Bush administration is planning an invasion of Venezuela to take over the nation's oil reserves.

State Department officials pass off the accusations as saber rattling and accuse Chavez of using his oil wealth to destabilize democracy in the region.

The United States this year blocked Chavez from purchasing Spanish planes and ships by denying export permits for U.S. technology used in them, leading Chavez to seek similar vessels from Russia.