- Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks during a meeting with United Socialist party members in Caracas, December 17, 2010. Venezuela's parliament gave President Chavez decree powers for 18 months on Friday, outraging opposition parties that accused him of turning South America's biggest oil producer into a dictatorship. The move consolidated the firebrand socialist leader's hold on power after nearly 12 years in office, and raised the prospect of a fresh wave of nationalizations as the former paratrooper seeks to entrench his self-styled "revolution." (Getty Images / REUTERS/Miraflores Palace/Handout )
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December 19, 2010 (KATAKAMI / VOA) --- Venezuela's president has vowed to reject the U.S. nominee for ambassador to the South American country.
Hugo Chavez said Saturday in a televised speech Larry Palmer will not be allowed to take up his post because the diplomat has been critical of Caracas.
Palmer upset the Chavez administration when he told a U.S. senator that morale was low in the Venezuelan military. Palmer also expressed concern about Colombian rebels finding refuge in Venezuela.
President Chavez says he has told Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro to detain Palmer if he tries to enter Venezuela.
The U.S. Senate is expected to confirm Palmer's appointment soon.
On Friday, Venezuelan lawmakers voted to allow Mr. Chavez to bypass parliament and rule by decree for 18 months. That move was denounced by opposition rivals and the U.S. government. (*)
