US spy plane violated Venezuela’s airspace: Chavez

President Hugo Chavez has ordered his military to be on alert and shoot down any such aircraft in the future.

President Hugo Chavez has accused the US of violating Venezuela’s airspace with an unmanned spy plane,and ordered his military to be on alert and shoot down any such aircraft in the future.

Speaking during his weekly television and radio programme,Chavez said the aircraft overflew a Venezuelan military base in the western state of Zulia after taking off from neighbouring Colombia. He did not elaborate,but suggested the plane was being used for espionage.

“These are the Yankees. They are entering Venezuela,” he said.

“I’ve ordered them to be shot down,” Chavez said of the aircraft. “We cannot permit this.”

Chavez has accused Colombia of allowing the United States to use its military bases to prepare a possible attack against Venezuela.

Both the US and Colombia have denied such allegations in the past,saying the US military presence is for the sole purpose of combating drug trafficking.

A spokeswoman for the US Embassy said the mission had no information about any flyover and had not been contacted by Chavez’s administration.

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“If the Venezuelan government would like to speak with us about any issue,we would welcome discussions because we seek open dialogue with all nations in the hemisphere,” spokeswoman Robin Holzhauer said.