Venezuela "concerned" about US statement against it: vice president

The Venezuelan government said on Friday that it is concerned about the statements of US spokespersons against Venezuela, despite its willingness to forge good relations with the United States.

"We're concerned about the position of the US State Department and of Mr. (Roger) Noriega, chief of the South Command, which placed the Venezuela-United States relations at a level of confrontation," said Venezuelan Vice President Jose Rangel.

Rangel termed as baseless the recent remarks by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Noriega, who said Venezuela is against the maintenance of good relations.

At another Capitol Hill hearing, Rice said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez himself is to blame for the problems that ail Venezuelan society.

The US government has also expressed concern about Venezuela's recent purchase of military equipment from Spain and Russia, saying it could be utilized by insurgent armed groups.

On March 30, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld criticized Venezuela's purchase of 100,000 AK-47 assault rifles from Russia, suggesting that Venezuela's possession of so many weapons would pose a threat to the Western hemisphere.

The vice president stressed that Venezuela would reject any foreign infringement on its national sovereignty.

On Thursday, Venezuelan Communication and Information Minister Andres Izarra said Venezuela has given a "cordial gesture" toward the United States recently, noting the Venezuelan government expressed the hope for fruitful relations with mutual respect between Caracas and Washington.

Tensions between Venezuela and the United States have been mounting amid exchanges of hostile rhetoric, in which Chavez accused Washington of planning to assassinate him.