Venezuela denounced in a statement on Sunday the remarks made by Peruvian president-elect Alan Garcia about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, describing them as "insulting" and "provocative".

Chavez "was a target for insulting remarks made by Alan Garcia" during Garcia's visit to Chile, Venezuela's Foreign Ministry said in the statement.

Garcia, who was reelected as head of state on June 5 and will take office on July 28, told the press during a recent visit to Chile that Chavez should "be left to his psychological problems," after Chavez said in Panama that he doubted the validity of the Peruvian presidential elections and called Garcia a "lap dog" of the United States.

According to the statement, Chavez made his remarks during his Panama trip in response to Garcia's previously aggressive talks and Peru's recent complaint to the Organization of American States (OAS) about Venezuela's "little importance at the heart of the OAS beyond the media attention it generated."

"Venezuela will respond unequivocally whenever Venezuela, its people or its president are insulted," the statement said, urging the Peruvian government to advise Garcia to stop uttering "provocative" language.

Chavez and Garcia were involved in a war of words since April.The then presidential candidate Garcia accused Chavez of interfering in Peru's internal affairs as the latter expressed his public support for Garcia's rival, nationalist candidate Ollanta Humala. The conflict escalated to a peak when the two countries eventually recalled their respective ambassadors.

Source: Xinhua