VENEZUELA VP; US SHOULD DEAL WITH ITS OWN DRUG PROBLEM

CARACAS -- The U.S. should worry about its own illegal drug problem instead
of criticizing that of other countries, Venezuelan Vice President Jose
Vicente Rangel said Friday.

Rangel accused the U.S. of being "the largest producer of marijuana in the
world" and the largest consumer of illegal substances. He didn't back up
his comments with specific figures or refer to research.

Rangel made the comments in response to recent U.S. press reports that
accused the administration of President Hugo Chavez of taking part in the
illegal drugs trade with Colombian guerrilla groups. Chavez flatly denied
the charges.

In July, the U.S. embassy said it would continue to coordinate with
Venezuelan authorities in the fight against drugs and terrorism, despite a
decision to withhold military aid. In early July, the U.S. suspended some
military aid to dozens of countries including Venezuela amid a dispute
concerning a new international war crimes court.

Venezuela and the U.S. have had a series of diplomatic rows since Chavez
took office in 1999. Chavez currently accuses the U.S. of meddling in
domestic affairs and siding with the political opposition, and he is a
vocal opponent of the war in Iraq. The populist leader has divided
Venezuelan society, with middle-class critics calling him authoritarian,
while backers say he supports the poor.