Chavez supports Syria against US

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has pledged to stand by Syria in opposition to what he said was US "imperialist aggression" in the Middle East.

Mr Chavez is visiting Syria to show solidarity with it and other Arab nations in their opposition to Israel and the US.

Thousands of Syrians lined the streets of the capital Damascus to welcome him.

Mr Chavez is on a tour of several countries that is viewed as a bid for support for a UN Security Council seat.

In recent weeks, Mr Chavez has visited about a dozen countries, including Iran and Malaysia.

Venezuela is looking for Latin America's next non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, a move the US is hoping to block, says the BBC's Michael Voss at the presidential palace in Damascus.

Mr Chavez was a fierce critic of Israel's offensive in Lebanon and has found common ground with Syria.

Mr Chavez withdrew his ambassador to Israel shortly after its invasion of southern Lebanon.

Energy deals

On Wednesday, Mr Chavez was given the red-carpet treatment as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad welcomed him at the presidential palace on a hill overlooking Damascus, our correspondent says.

"We have the same political vision and we will resist together the American imperialist aggression," Mr Chavez told reporters upon his arrival at Damascus airport late on Tuesday.

During his visit, Mr Chavez is expected to sign energy deals with the Syrian government.

On Tuesday in Malaysia, the Venezuelan president met a group of local businessmen and urged them to invest in Venezuela's economy.

From Syria, Mr Chavez is to travel to Angola.