CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez criticized the presence of U.S. troops in Colombia as worrying on Wednesday, calling American involvement in the neighboring country a problem.
Chavez, a staunch critic of a U.S. government he calls "The Empire," made the comment after reading a news report on state television about two American soldiers arrested in Colombia for alleged involvement in a plot to traffic ammunition.
"That is a problem we have here, that they are there inside Colombia," Chavez said, referring to U.S. troops in general. "It's a motive for us to worry, that the U.S. military is in Colombia. That has to worry us."
Chavez has alarmed U.S. officials with his close ties to Cuban leader Fidel Castro, his plans to buy 100,000 Russian assault rifles and his constant criticism of American foreign policy.
The populist leader has warned the United States - the top buyer of Venezuelan oil - not to try anything against him, but has said he wants peace.
"What we want is for them to leave us peace, so we can build the country. We aren't a threat to anyone," Chavez said. However, he warned, "Those who mess with us, we'll prick them."
He also called the planned purchase of Kalashnikov riles "defensive weapons" to replace outdated guns.
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