Rice: "Chávez is destroying his country economically and politically"

The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Wednesday joined a wave of US criticisms against Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez while urging to avoid "a rhetoric battle" with Caracas that may undermine Washington agenda for Latin America.

"I think the Venezuelan President is actually destroying his country both economically and politically," Rice told the Foreign Affairs Committee, House of Representatives, when submitting the international relations budget for fiscal year 2008, AFP reported.

"I think Venezuela is going through a negative transition," said the US diplomat one week after the National Assembly gave Chávez special ruling powers to legislate in 11 strategic areas including economy and energy.

Last week, US President George W. Bush voiced "concern" about "reduced" democracy in Venezuela and about government plans to nationalize energy and electricity private companies.

Earlier, the likely second-ranking official at the US Department of State, John Negroponte, opened fire against Caracas, claiming that Chávez was "a threat for Latin American democracies."